IA pilots threaten stir from November 1 over pay arrears

MUMBAI: Pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines have decided to go on a ������ non co-operation��� ��� agitation from November 1, if their allowances and incentives which have been pending for the last two months are not paid by that time.

The decision was taken at the general body meeting of Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), the recognised union of erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots, held in Mumbai on Wednesday. ������ If the allowances and incentives , which account for 65-70 % of our salaries are not paid by November 1, we will launch a non-operation agitation from that day.

It would mean taking whatever necessary action, as per the law of the land, to get our demands met,������ said Capt R S Otaal, ICPA general secretary. He did not explain whether ������ non-cooperation��� ��� would mean a strike from work or work to rule or other forms of protest.

Meanwhile, the ICPA pilots in other metros like Chennai and Delhi have demanded that if the salaries of Indian pilots are being held back, then the airline should do so for the expatriate pilots too. ������ In a meeting held with the Air India chairman on Tuesday, we brought up this matter. The expatriate pilots get double the salary and it is given on time. The airline cannot have double standards,������ said a pilot adding that they would look at some form of ������ protest��� ��� if the airline continues to hold back their allowances while paying the expatriates .

The ICPA central committee , which is meeting on October 31, will decide on the nature of agitation to be launched from Sunday, Capt Otaal said.