Pilots Guild slams Dharmadhikari report

The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), the de-recognised Air India pilots' union, has slammed the Dharmadhikari report,calling  it 'tailor-made' to suit the interests of employees of the erstwhile Indian Airlines

''The report reinforces the bias and prejudice that the management harbours towards the employees of erstwhile Air India vis-a-vis the employees of erstwhile Indian Airlines,'' said the IPG, which is spearheading a nearly four-week-long strike.

Pilots affiliated to the IPG, who operate international flights, have been on a strike protesting against the management training pilots of the former domestic carrier on wide-bodied Dreamliners, which Air India is expected to take delivery soon.

The civil aviation ministry has decided to set up another committee to examine the recommendations of the Dharmadhikari report. The panel will seek the views of all sections of the employees.

According to Ajit Singh, the civil aviation minister, the committee had recommended that pilots, engineers and technicians servicing narrow-body aircraft should be paid differently from those on wide-body aircraft. The pay-scale of pilots would depend on the type of aircraft they operate, and not on whether they belonged to the erstwhile Air India or Indian Airlines.

Pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines had operated on domestic and short-haul international routes, using narrow-bodied aircraft, while Air India pilots have been operating long-haul international routes with wide-bodied aircraft.