Staff integration in Air India: Committee of officers holds meeting

A committee of officers, set up to implement the critical issue of staff integration in Air India, has begun the process of preparing a roadmap for implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Dharmadhikari Committee on the issue.

The four-member panel, headed by Civil Aviation Ministry Director Nasir Ali, met for the first time here yesterday and decided to meet leaders of all unions representing various sections of Air India employees to ensure there was no labour trouble during the implementation of integration process.

The meeting came in the wake of Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh's recent warning that "there will be many hiccups on the way" of implementing the recommendations and "we have to be very patient and firm at the same time".

The airline is estimated to save Rs 250 crore in its wage bill in the first year of implementation itself.

An official spokesperson said the Committee, at its first meeting, began preparing a roadmap for timely implementation of the Dharmadhikari Committee report, with the entire process scheduled to be completed in the next six to eight weeks.

The officials' panel would hold interaction with various associations and sections of Air India employees to resolve any issue arising out of the implementation of Dharmadhikari Committee recommendations.

These include steps to integrate pay-scales and career progression issues concerning the staff of erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India since they were merged in 2007.

In its report submitted on January 31, the Dharmadhikari Committee had, among other things, recommended pay structure and incentives to Air India staffers in line with those of other public sector undertakings.

It is also understood to have recommended a uniform working hours policy, scrapping of productivity-linked incentive, bringing on par allowances with those applicable for other public sector units and an employees' stock option.

Regarding the pay package for employees like pilots, cabin crew and engineers, the Ministry would soon move the Union Cabinet to approve proposals that these were on par with the prevailing principles in the aviation industry as their incentives are more than the guidelines of the Department of Public Enterprises. PTI ARC ZMN 06221809 NNNN