In the end, the erstwhile, Indian Airlines striking pilots got nothing. All that they managed to do was inconvenience passengers. It is estimated that 16,000 to 17,000 Air India passengers were transferred to private airlines every day of the 10-day strike.

This, of course, does not include thousands of those who were left stranded. This along with cashing in on the strike and hiking fares meant that private airlines shored up their bottom lines. Worse, the strike also meant revenue losses of about Rs 20 crorea day for the Maharaja.

The strike which ended late Friday saw the Ministry of Civil Aviation issue the minutes of what was agreed to between the pilots' union and a three-member negotiating delegation led by the Joint Secretary in the Ministry. The strike had been called demanding parity with other pilots in the airline.

The agreed minutes state: “Matters relating to parity and working conditions will be considered by the Dharmadhikari Committee and would be implemented by November 2011. The issue relating to demand of 75 hours of flying allowance and monthly grant of $1,600 shall be referred to Justice Dharmadhikari Committee, requesting it to consider it on a priority basis.”

While pilots may argue that this is a victory for them, it should be noted that nowhere do the minutes commit to paying the pilots the additional monies for which they were striking work. All the pilots have got is yet another assurance that their demands will be looked into and the Committee report will be implemented by November.

Incidentally, the Committee had been given five months starting in April to look at the issue of wage parity in the airline.

Interestingly after the first meeting of the Justice Dharmadhikari Committee, it was decided to invite written submissions/suggestions from all unions, associations, individuals and group of employees within the erstwhile companies. Coincidentally, the first meeting of the Committee was held on the day pilots went on strike on April 27.

So what did the strike achieve? And what happens if the Committee feels that there is no case for bringing about pay parity? Will the pilots again strike work? Or will they quietly listen to the Committee?

These are questions that the pilots should answer. After all they cannot hold flyers to ransom for choosing to fly Air India. Nor can they waste tax payers' money to suit their needs.

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