Air India pilots on Wednesday informed the Air India management that they may have no option but to resort to a strike from April 1 if their wage arrears are not paid by then, even as Jet Airways pilots threatened to wear black arm-bands on Thursday (March 8) in protest against delays in payment of their salaries. However, sources in Jet Airways said the matter is being resolved and that the pilots would put the move on hold.
Pilots operating international routes in Air India say a strike notice could be issued soon if the arrears are not paid. Some of the pilots have also made up their mind to tell the management that the financial stress being faced by them and resultant tension in their minds could make it dangerous to operate flights and that the arrears should therefore be paid at the earliest.
However, an Air India spokesperson expressed confidence that there would be no strike by pilots and said the matter would be resolved well in time.
A Jet Airways pilot, meanwhile, told this newspaper that delayed wages every month had angered the pilots. Sources in Jet Airways said the pilots and managerial cadre officers were getting their wages later than other employees.
Non-payment of wage arrears and delayed payment of salaries to pilots therefore seem to be affecting some of the major carriers.