The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA), comprising several senior Air India pilots, have written to Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal complaining that the leave without pay scheme, which Air India calls a ‘win-win’ for both’, was finalised without consulting the pilots. While ICPA said it supports temporary austerity measures in the wake of economic distress triggered by the pandemic, it has slammed the Air India management for its proposal with regards to restructuring of wages.
In a letter to Air India CMD, the ICPA said “Any unilateral change by Air India from agreed-upon wage settlement would be illegal and will not be in the interest of our National Carrier at this crucial juncture. Such a situation has the potential to flair to unprecedented magnitude.”
