AI staff refuse to relent on strike

Mumbai, March 23: As the annual holiday season starts, Air India (AI) unions, including pilots and engineers, have reiterated their threat to go on strike from April 2 if their pending salaries and allowances dues are not cleared by March 31, an official said.

Representing a majority of the airline employees, the seven unions, in a joint action, have also sought a written assurance from the AI management that their dues would be cleared.

An AI official said that all efforts are being made to clear the dues and expressed hope that the employees would not resort to any action that would be detrimental to the airline during the crucial holiday season.

He said that though some of the unions have warned of a strike action, the management is hopeful an amicable solution acceptable to all would be worked out soon.

Air India is reeling under heavy debt amounting to several thousands of crores.

The Central government has recently announced a `6,500-crore bailout package for the national carrier to make it profitable.

The civil aviation minister had said that the bailout package for Air India would include conversion of a part of the short-term loan into long-term loan, and injecting `6,500 crore as government equity. The minister, however, stressed that the national carrier has to improve its financial performance.