Air India to call back retired crew

Mumbai: Air India (AI)  is hiring 50 cabin crew from its retired staff on contract basis to counter the problem of manpower shortage.
“During a meeting in Delhi on Tuesday, the management of AI decided to call back the retired crew to deal with the crisis. They will be hired on contract basis and will have to start work at the junior-most level,” a senior crew member told DNA.
“They cannot come back at their old designations. Many of them retired at a salary of Rs1 lakh per month, but now they will be paid Rs40,000-50,000 per month.”
At present, AI has 2,100 cabin crew and is short-staffed by around 300 people. The ones who have been chosen by the airline have been ‘loyal’ employees of AI for several years. They are aged 55 and above and are expected to add to the quality of service provided by the airline.
The airline also benefits with the arrangement as the crew won’t be protected under the trade union agreement.
12/11/10 Naveeta Singh/Daily News & Analysis