UN FAIR AND UN WARRANTED

The decision of the management of AIR INDIA (AI) to defer the salary of its 30,000 odd employees by 15 days is unfair and un warranted. The reason attributed is resource crunch that the organization is facing. Although AI is facing financial crunch, it is a government of India undertaking. The financial position of the Center is very good. The management of the AI should make necessary arrangement in consultation with the Finance Ministry for release of salary to employees on due date. It is reported that AI is seeking Rs. 5000 crores from the Center as equity, apart from a soft loan of Rs. 7000 crores. Hence it would not be difficult to obtain a temporary over draft from public sector banks for payment of salaries for the month of July which may be around Rs. 150 plus crores. The employees have regular monthly commitments like home loan repayment, credit card payment etc. for which they might have issued post dated cheques. If salary is not received on due dates the cheques get bounced leading to further complications. Non payment of salary on due dates is against the principles of Payment of Wages Act and Industrial dispute Act and most importantly it is in-human.