Before Tata takeover, Air India Unions ask govt to resolve 6 issues of employees

Oct. 14: The debt ridden Air India was taken over by Tata Sons. However, before Tata takes over the reigns, all Air India Unions in a joint letter to Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation raise concerns about cash, leave, medical benefits, accommodation of employees & arrears.

1. Leave Encashment Option- All Unions have been promised their leave encashment from the time meetings held by the then Hon Minister of Civil Aviation and then-Secretary MOCA since Jan 2020 until the most recent meeting with CMD-AI on 01/09/2021. As unions, they demanded that the option to encash or carry forward immediately their PL/SL be clarified before the handover. Those who opt to encash it now may commence with new leave accounts, and those who have opted to carry forward may be credited with that leave balance.

2. Air India Colonies – They had requested to allow employees to continue living in the colonies until their superannuation or monetization since the subsidiaries were not being transferred and would continue with the government. The ministries letters after that have been very harsh in principle, demanding that all employees sign undertakings in 15 days or pay 15 lakhs penalties. They urged to intercede on behalf of the Air Indians who reside in these colonies to allow them to reside in them for a reasonable period of at least a year. Since the new buyer is providing employees with a one-year employment guarantee, the colony facility should at least be co-terminus with that date if not until VRS is provided.

3. Medical benefits – Since they have no clarity on the medical benefits for the serving and the retired/ retiring employees. So, as Unions, they are yet to receive a final response as to which of the two options has been finalized. They are also concerned about OPD, Hospitalization, and disbursal of Medicines, etc., for serving and retired employees.

4. Post-retirement benefits – They have constantly demanded that all permanent employees be given the right to post-retirement benefits of Medical & Passage. They raised the same with the then Minister at the all-union meeting hosted by the Minister on 20/01/2020, also attended by the previous Secretary Civil Aviation & CMD- Air India and other executives. At the meeting of 01/09/2021, they drew attention to the last joint meeting of all unions. It is estimated that some 2400 permanent employees are being left out of the retirement scheme for want of completion of the 20 years clause. All permanent employees should be entitled to these benefits.

5. Restoration of pre- Covid Allowances / Emoluments – The allowances of all employees had been cut during the first wave of Covid last year. Now that the flying is fast reaching normalization and passenger traffic getting back to pre-Covid levels, they demanded that their pre-Covid emoluments be returned.

6. Payment of all Arrears – This issue has been hanging fire for years now, and unions have demanded all their arrears to be settled before handover. For the erst. IA Pilots, the arrears go back to their 1997 Agreement, and for the erst. Al Pilots /Cabin Crew includes pending flying allowance arrears/ emoluments of 2006/ 2007 agreements and arrears arising out of the unilateral 25% Pay cut made on account of jDC from 2012. The arrears must be paid in full with interest prior to handover, and a statement of arrears promised to be them should be furnished immedialtely.