Jet Airways, the country’s premium airline, seems to have run into rough weather.
Technicians of Jet Airways have been protesting against an alleged intimation by the airline company to freeze salaries at the current level. The airline’s pilots have decided to meet on the same issue in the next few days.
While the technicians, stationed across the country, have been on a “symbolic” protest by wearing black badges for the last six days, pilots of Jet Airways have called for a meeting in Delhi on February 1, according to an official.
“Apart from the proposed freeze in salary hikes, we will be discussing issues related to non-payment of arrears and increments,” said a source, adding that this would be followed up by another meeting in Mumbai a few days later.
Meanwhile, Jet Airways has denied the allegations. When contacted, the airline said, “Jet Airways has always adopted a conciliatory open door policy with all its staff including its technicians.
“In addition, a management team is in constant dialogue and discussions with the technicians, in explaining to them the commercial and other challenges, given the present economic state of the global aviation industry at large and the airline in particular. This is expected to address the issues under discussion, but would also help resolve all future issues through this mechanism.”
The airline added that it has made salary disbursals as per a pre-determined schedule of dates, which are internally communicated to the staff.
Jet Airways has been in talks with Etihad Airways for a possible stake sale.