AIE cabin crew allege discrimination

Kozhikode: Cabin crew employed by Air India Charters Ltd (AICL) to operate Air India Express (AIE) services have appealed to the airline authorities to regularise their services and increase their salary.
The 400-odd AIE cabin crew demanded provision for a women’s cell to check sexual harassment. They alleged that two victims of such harassment had committed suicide.
The recently-formed Air India Charters Cabin Crew Union headed by Rama Chandra Khuntia, Congress MP, alleged that attempts were being made to conduct new recruitment of nearly 500 cabin crew at a higher salary ignoring the claims of the existing crew for such benefits granted to full-time staff.
Pointing out that cabin crew in AIE were underpaid, Mr. Khuntia in a representation to Arvind Jadhav, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India (AI), drew his attention to the fact that cabin crew in AI with the same job experience were getting a higher salary besides other statutory benefits.
The cabin crew in AIE were initially appointed for five years on contract which was later extended by three years and paid Rs.25,000 without increment.
Spokesperson of the union said on Tuesday that 170 cabin crew had already resigned disgusted with the lack of career progression and low salary.
03/05/11 The Hindu