AI proposes cut in expat pilots’ wages

[flyjet787]

Under pressure from its Indian pilots’ unions, Air India is understood to have proposed a 10 per cent cut in the salaries of about 150 expat pilots currently on its rolls.
“The management has proposed a 10 per cent reduction in the salaries of expat pilots,” sources familiar with the development said weeks after pilots’ unions demanded compatibility between their pay package and that of foreign pilots. In addition, the management is also considering slashing their bonuses by 50 per cent and stopping reimbursement of their travelling allowances, sources said.
Currently, around 810 expat pilots are employed by five airlines — Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Air India alone has around 153 pilots, besides 1,253 Indian pilots and about 200 trainees.
A major demand of the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association and the Indian Pilots’ Guild, which have gone on strike in the past, has been to curtail packages offered to expat pilots as a cost-cutting measure.
“Air India has plans to implement the proposal from January and has written to various international pilots recruitment agencies.” But agencies have sought some time as they want to consult with these pilots before accepting or rejecting the proposal, sources said.
In response to a right to information (RTI) application, the National Aviation Company of India Ltd. (NACIL) had said it paid Rs.93.29 crore towards salaries and expenses to agencies which provided expatriate pilots to Air India and Air-India Express in the last fiscal.
PTI

[optimus.Prime]

Code:

But agencies have sought some time as they want to consult with these pilots before accepting or rejecting the proposal, sources said.

- - - Here we go again!

[silent_scream]

Management Propose. Pilots Dispose !

[TopTup]

or maybe.......

Will (AI) management and pilots first:

1. Rid itself of the inherent and widespread corruption stemming from the employment of new CPL holder's entry, and to which agency gets how many expats signed?
2. Implement the computerised rostering system that has been paid for but not used so as to accommodate bribes, favors and arrogant senior pilots getting the rosters they choose, to work when they wish and not have expat pilots staying at 5 start accommodation for weeks on end doing NOTHING?
3. Utilise 1 x vehicle to transport pilots and cabin crew from the same hotel to the same airport at the same time for the same flight and not separate means?
4. Utilise 1 x vehicle instead of each pilot having own car and driver when 4 x pilots depart from same hotel for the same flight at the same time for the same airport?
5. Remove the "servants" roaming the halls of the AI Ops buildings providing meals and tea at the whim of middle management?
6. Assess the productivity the present management and retire those former military pilots (navigators) from wandering the halls doing nothing?
7. Train pilots to fly a constant rate decent profile with idle thrust (where suited) and not the dive and drive technique of wasting tons of fuel at MSA dragging flap and gear for up to 20+ track miles at, eg 2600 ft (DEL)?
8. Retire the airport "servants" whom carry the pilots' bags from the conveyer belt to the transport?
9. Stop the FA's and pilots raping the left over alcohol from galleys at the end of a flight?
10. Introduce single engine taxiing at airports like JFK (like other airlines do) to prevent 2 engines burning 33 kg fuel per minute per engine?
11. Co-ordinate with the (corrupt) DGCA to have FATA's and licenses issued PRIOR to expiring and not have pilots sitting doing NOTHING for weeks on end?
12. Look into the dubious, corrupt, incompetent dealings already going on, especially that VERMIN managing the expat contracts and QUEEN BEE in a not too distant office?
13. Get the training efficient, productive and to the standard required (and OWED to the pilots!) instead of taking 4-6 months for an already qualified pilot (expat Commander) to be checked to line OR over 18 months for a new comer?
14. Look into the "productivity" bonuses paid to the said managers where NO productivity let alone profit can be shown?
15. Provide the expats with serviced apartments creating a saving of 30-40% over the cost of 5 star accommodation on a night to to night basis? (Win/Win!)
16. Seek the experience of some of the expats who have seen all this before in their past and have the skills and knowledge to offer productive advice of rostering, structures and systems? (That does mean nil corruption - ha! Yeah right!!)

....just a few thoughts that come to mind off the top of my head.

Or, finally, simply honor the contracts they already have in place to expat and national alike?

Perhaps they could EVEN get their airline together and try to be professional () and train the new CPL arrivals/cadets, and the experienced () FO's to the needed level so the airline will be ready for the impending mass exodus of expat pilots if (WHEN!) this rubbish happens. I know, a TALL ORDER!

ALL THE PEOPLE AREN'T ALWAYS WRONG ALL THE TIME.

[weido_salt]

Well written!

I couldn't have summed it up so well.

[kiterunner]

Can understand any management trying to cut cost/pay whatever... but this is a group of employees asking the management to cut the salary of another group of employees...
what the hell is that...are u guys that low...try get yourself paid higher instead of pulling others down to your level.
this is not my place but I can't help barging in.

[whiteknuckles]

Well said, TopTup, the problem is not the wages paid to the expat pilots, who arrive already type-rated and with plenty of experience.
The question is how to stand up to this treatment? Does anybody out there have experience of being in this situation before? If so, how did you deal with it? If nothing else, a situation where you are not being paid on time and faced with a significant cut in pay is not safe and needs to be sorted out.