Ref. No.: IATA/CO/2019/702 Date: 08.07.

2019

To

Shri Ashwani Lohaniji,

Chairman & Managing Director,
Air India Limited,
Airlines House
New Delhi

Subject: - Issues and Concerns.

Respected Sir,

First of all, we would like to thank your good office for calling us for the meeting.
IATA (Indian Aircraft Technicians Association), the largest union in Air India
Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) and the sole recognized body covering Service
Engineers and others, strongly opposes the Disinvestment/Privatization of Air India
and its subsidiaries.
1. It is to submit that during the transfer of engineering personnel from Air India
to AIESL, the Air India management submitted an affidavit in Bombay High
Court as well as in Supreme Court of India that the said transfer of employees is
effected without any adverse change in the service conditions of such
employees, that is without affecting continuity of service, pay and allowances,
career progression, benefits and perquisites. The said transferred employees
would be entitled to all the benefits of the past service and that the same shall be
maintained by the respondent (i.e. Air India, the Parent Company ).

2. As per Court’s verdict on the issue of merger and hiving-off of subsidiary

(AIESL), all the Service Conditions, Pay and Perks, facilities and welfare
measures of permanent employees of Air India Limited working/retired,
whether in Air India Limited or in AIESL will be protected.

3. It is also to submit here that the number of employees and their salary budget as
was projected, has reduced drastically and in coming 3 to 5 years almost 90% of
the permanent employees of Air India are going to retire.

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Ref. No.: IATA/CO/2019/702 Date: 08.07.2019

4. Hence, under these circumstances, it is expected that the decision of

Disinvestment/Privatization of the company should not be considered. The only
way of revival, rather than other ways to address the issue, be derived by taking
on board the employees’ representatives, which will surely restore the faith in
the employees.

ISSUES AND CONCERNS: -

1. Pay Revision - The wage revision is due for Air India employees since 01.01.2007.
What will be the action in this regard?

2. Payment of Arrears of 25% Salary Cut - The employees have suffered in all
respects like delayed salaries for months together and withholding of 25% of
salaries every month from 01.07.2012 for more than 6-years now. Request for
Payment of arrears of 25% of the salary at the earliest. What is the thinking
regarding this?

3. Arrear dues from 01.01.1997 - The wage revision which was due for Indian
Airlines in 1997, was signed in 2007 and no arrears were given for the period
1997 to 2006 (10-years) for IATA category of employees of Narrow Body. It is
also to inform that in this regard the Arbitrator appointed by the Supreme Court
of India has also given the award in our favor but we are again forced to fight
the case in Delhi High Court. What will be the status of this case?

4. Revised RBP/CTC structure: - Implementation of Justice Dharmadhikari

Committee recommendations are not as per JDC report, not as per our
agreements and not as per DPE guidelines too. We submitted our consent on
30.12.2015 for the implementation of Rationalized Pay Structure (RBP/CTC)
without prejudice to our rights and contentions. A number of anomalies are still
pending.
Sir, it is also to mention here that while attending the anomalies in Revised Basic
Pay Structure for non- technical officers/employees, the point to point fitment
formula was considered whereas our revised basic pay structure is yet to be
revised with point to point fitment formula. We request your good office to look
into the matter and do the needful to bring uniformity.
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Ref. No.: IATA/CO/2019/702 Date: 08.07.2019

5. Revision of PLI – Clause 11.32 of IATA Agreement dated 03.08.2002 has not
been taken into consideration for our category’s revised basic pay structure while
the same has been taken into consideration for AMEs, Engineers-SS and
engineering management in AIESL.

6. Passage facility & Medical facilities – The existing passage facility and medical
facilities for the serving and retired employees to be protected/extended as it is.
7. Provident Fund/Pension Scheme - Any move towards dis-investment or
privatization of the company will adversely affect the service conditions of the
existing as well as retiring/retired employees in the case of Provident fund
(managed by Employees Trust separately in Narrow body and Wide body),
Pension- self contributory pension scheme (managed by employees Trust
separately in Narrow body and Wide body). How this will be addressed is a big
question mark for the employees, and has to be discussed with unions/
associations as its very complicated issue and relates to future security of
employees and cannot be taken lightly. Hence EPS-95 has to be considered for
all employees of AIL & its subsidiaries for which a separate meeting is requested
with Director (Finance) & Director (Personnel).
8. Stagnation – There is severe career stagnation in our category due to adverse
promotion policy resulting into service engineers getting stuck in the same
grade. Issue of stagnation may be addressed by revising the career pattern and
with opening of new grades.

9. Retirement Age: - There is critical shortage of experienced service engineers’

category for maintenance of Aircraft due excessive retirement in Service
Engineers category. Hence, we request your good office to look into the matter
to review the superannuation age from 58 years to 60 years in order to retain the
most experienced technical manpower before any move.

Under the present scenario though we are always there for joining hands for the
turnaround of our esteemed organization (as has been in the past) instead of we being
the most deprived/discriminated category within engineering, we request you and are
hopeful that you will look into our long pending issues and resolve the same to the best
of your employees satisfaction.

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Ref. No.: IATA/CO/2019/702 Date: 08.07.2019

We the employees of Air India and its Subsidiaries request the respected Chair to
understand our issues & concerns and hope you will take up this matter with utmost
priority and concern with the Government of India.

We hope your good office will update/discuss with us time to time as per the current
developments as during merger process unions/associations were not taken into
confidence and the result is in front of you.

Thanking you,
With Regards,

(M. S. KULKARNI)
General Secretary,
Indian Aircraft Technicians Association
IATA Central Office, Kolkata
Email: kmilindsharad@yahoo.in

Copy to: -
1. Director (P), Air India Limited, New Delhi.
2. Director (F), Air India Ltd, New Delhi,
3. CEO – AIESL, New Delhi.
4. Executive Director (Engineering), AIESL, New Delhi
5. COP – AIESL, New Delhi.

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