After pilots, now the ground staff union of Jet Airways has expressed concerns over removing employees under the garb of reduced operations and delays in salary payments.
In a letter to the management, All India Jet Airways’ Officers and Staff Association (AIJAOSA) said: “The management of the company has in the last year been short-sighted and failed to resolve various issues of financial and operational demands made by us.”
Over 250 senior ground staff along with their union body, the AIJAOSA approached the management over concerns over cancellations of flights and discontinuation of flight routes along with issues of unmet demands. According to sources, the management of Jet Airways has asked for time to respond to the queries by March 18.
According to sources, Jet Airways had a board meeting at the Siroya Centre, the headquarters of the airline, where the senior ground staff members reached the office to get resolution on their issues.
Jet Airways’ management and the members of its employee union held a scheduled meeting today to share updates regarding ongoing developments. The airline’s employees continue to support the management and the initiatives being undertaken to revive the financial health and stability of the company.
Kiran Pawaskar, MLC and president of the union body, said that “The airline has not been cooperating so far with unmet demands of the union. There are four court cases pending as well. We, thus, had to approach the airline top management with our demands.”
According to the letter reviewed by BusinessLine, the union had issues of wage review since April 2018.
The letter further stated that “the management has been removing employees under the garb of reduced operations in gross violation of law. These actions are unilateral and damage the premise of sound relationships that have been nurtured over time.” The letter further had a charter of demands such has increase in wages.
All eyes on March 18
Pawaskar further added that “The airline has said the picture will be clearer by March 18. No suspensions and termination will be made. We have four court cases pending since 2015, the management has asked for a month to resolve those as well.”
A source said, “Etihad Airways is also set to have a board meeting on March 11 to discuss a few things.” According to another source in the know, “A meeting with Etihad, SBI and other lenders is set to happen on March 18, again and hopefully, a resolution is to be signed.”
Meanwhile, the pilot body of Jet Airways is set to have an annual general meeting on March 19 to discuss salary issues.