Air India employees receive 10% salary cut; request Minister of Civil Aviation to intervene

Air India earned praises from all over the country for operating several rescue missions of bringing stranded Indians back home when coronavirus hit the country.

Sadly, the Air India crew has been subjected to societal problems since the start of the virus in India. As Air India employes have had to write a letter to the authorities again, this time the problem is not from the society. Air India employees write a letter to the Minister of Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri, requesting him to intervene and stop the salary cuts of the employees.

"We the employees of Air India and its subsidiaries are writing to you at the backdrop of unilateral pay cut imposed on employees of Air India Ltd for three months against the government's instructions. While all the PSU's are following the directions of the Government, it is agonizing to note Air India has imposed pay cut in wake of COVID- 19 crisis. It is explicitly reflected as COVID-19 pay cut in March 2020 salary slip," the letter reads.

The letter was written as the employees received a 10 per centsalary cut in the salary that was credited to their accounts on April 18. The employees believe that after running several relief flights for the nation, thispay cut, in such tough times,will negatively affect their morale.

"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. The Flying crew are yet to receive 70 percent of their wages for the work done in the month of February 2020," the letter reads.

"We request you to countermand Air India Committee's decision on COVID pay cut which is against the Government Directives and also treat us at par with other PSU's during lockdown," requested the employees. They also requested for government support on all fronts so that they employees can keep continuing helping the nation through their relief missions.