COVID-19 lockdown: Return our salary, demand 8 employees’ unions of Air India

In view of the fact that the COVID-19 pay cut is “forcibly” being implemented by th e Modi government, as many as eight employees’ unions of the Air India have expressed their grievances and demanded a rollback of the decision to deduct 10% salary for three months.

A joint letter that was sent to the Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri on Friday by the unions, says that the decision to deduct the 10% salary was not “unilateral” but “unlawful” also.

“This pay cut by Air India is mere optics, unnecessary and will hit the morale of the employees which will have a cascading effect on the Indian economy,” the letter by the unions stated.

“In spite of instructions from the Government of India concerning the welfare of the employees and directions to make payment of wages on the due date, the management of Air India defaulted on timely payment of salary which was paid on 18th April, 2020, with a 10 percent pay cut,” reads the letter.

Saying that the flying crew are yet to receive 70 % of their wages for the work done in the the month of February, the aggrieved employees requested to treat them at par with other PSUs during the lockdown.

Citing section 10 (2) of the Disaster Management Act – 2005, the unions said that any violation of the act is punishable under section 58 of the act.

“All the employers, be it in the industry or in the shops and commercial establishments, shall make payment of wages of their workers, at their workplace, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishments are under closure during the lockdown,” says the Disaster Management Act.

Last week, NH reported that employees of the debt-ridden national carrier have warned the management of legal action

In order to “lessen the financial burden” Air India has decided to cut salaries of all employees by 10% for three months.

It is worth reminding here that On March 23, the Modi government had asked public and private sector companies not to cut salaries or lay off employees amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

While IndiGo had announced on March 19 that it is cutting salaries of senior employees by up to 25%, the budget carrier rolled it back on Thursday for the month of April.

However, the private airline clarified that a few senior employees – the members of the Executive Committee and senior vice presidents – have voluntarily taken the pay cut in April.