While on the one side, Air India is battling massive losses every day, on the other side, the airline is being prepared to be sold to the highest private bidder. However, in this process, the employees of Air India, and the various unions of Air India employees are not happy. The employees of Air India are concerned about the security of their jobs post-privatisation and have expressed their sentiments through the unions to the Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri. In a second meeting this month after the one on January 2, the union will express its interest in getting a Voluntary Service Retirement (VRS) scheme for its employees.
Aviation Minister Asks Unions to Cooperate
In the first meeting with the various unions of Air India, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri had asked the unions to cooperate with the privatisation of the airline and also added that their jobs would be protected after the privatisation. He had also remarked that privatisation was the only way in front of the government to keep Air India afloat.
Air India Union Afraid of Job Security
However, the union is still concerned that their jobs might not be protected a year after the privatisation. A source from the airline told PTI, "But off late, our members have been approaching us and want us to discuss a voluntary retirement scheme package with the government as it is expected that our job will be protected only for one-year post-privatisation. We are going to raise this issue at the meeting with the Minister today.” Reported Deccan Herald.
Government Proceeding with EoI
It is also worth noting that after the carrier is sold to the private bidder, the investor will be allowed to hold 11,000 of Air India’s employees after a year. On the government front, the cabinet of ministers has already met once on January 7 and decided on the drafting of the Expression of Interest (EoI) for the sale of Air India.
