Vistara tells pilots: ‘accept new pay or risk job in merged firm’
Vistara issued an ultimatum to its pilots on Friday, hours before a deadline to accept a new pay structure ahead of its merger with Air India that could result in a pay cut of more than 50% for some, warning that failure to sign on could lead to their exclusion from the integrated airline.
On Friday morning, Vistara’s Human Resources department sent a mail to pilots reminding them that it was the last day for them to accept the new pay structure, failing which they risked losing a one time payout, their place in the sequence for upgrade, and their elimination from the merged entity.
Pilots, particularly First Officers, had demanded an extension of deadline after a heated exchange during an online meeting with the HR on Thursday.
The First Officers argue the new salary structure, which offers 40 hours of minimum guaranteed flying to all pilots instead of the current 70 hours, results in an almost 57% pay cut. They also assert that under the new terms they have to fly for up to 76 hours to earn what they were drawing at 70 hours earlier, and this at a time when Vistara’s flights are expected to reduce as aircraft are shifted to Air India and Air India Express.
On the other hand, Captains and Senior Captains would only have to fly 5255 hours and 5560 hours, respectively, to earn the salary they were getting for 70 hours of flying.
“After an employee is hired, the conditions of employment can’t be changed to his or her disadvantage,” said aviation lawyer Yeshwanth Shenoy. “This means that any bonds signed by pilots, along with undated cheques, in lieu of training, will be invalid,” he observed. Vistara had not responded to questions emailed to it, till the time of going to press.