New Delhi:
Air India management will soon set up a committee of pilots and Civil Aviation Ministry representatives to work on a turnaround plan and discuss issues, says Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.
Opposing any "unilateral action" by the management, Patel said "government will ensure that the management and all sections of the employees sit together and exchange views" on the problems being faced by the national carrier.
The Minister said the agitating pilots also felt there were various ways to achieve cost reduction and enhance revenues for the airline.
Maintaining that government's desire was to ensure improvement in Air India's financial health through the turnaround programme, Patel said he had briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the proposals to support Air India in this regard.
Asked about unconfirmed reports that a section of pilots still wanted to continue their agitation, he said "we have set a deadline and I hope everybody adheres to it. If not, the management is free to take stern action."
He said salaries and productivity-linked incentives for July have already been disbursed to the pilots and those for August would be paid soon. "There is no reason for any section of employees to be unhappy."
Patel said he was very concerned that the entire civil aviation sector, both in India and abroad, was going through a downturn and added that "every section of employees must behave responsibly."
"The avenues of employment are not available globally. In India, the employment scenario (in the sector) is much better as the spirit here is not anti-employee," Patel said in response to questions.