A group of permanent engineers from the state-owned AIESL conveyed their intention to initiate a strike starting on May 24, in pursuit of the immediate implementation of their long-pending revised salary payments. The collective represents approximately 1,700 employees within the company, primarily offering engineering services to Air India and a few other airlines.

In a notice issued, the collective proposed the initiation of strike or any form of agitation from May 24, 2024.

This decision follows a warning less than three weeks prior, where the group indicated potential industrial unrest among its members if the issues regarding salaries remained unaddressed.

The collective represents aircraft maintenance engineers, service engineers, and allied cadre unions of permanent employees formerly with Air India and Indian Airlines, who were subsequently transferred to AIESL. The company's staff count exceeds 5,000 individuals.

The Aviation Industry Employees' Guild, All India Service Engineers' Association, Air Corporation Employees' Union, and Indian Aircraft Technicians' Associations had signed a wage revision agreement in January of this year. According to the collective, this agreement, aimed at resolving various litigations, discrepancies in pay implementation, and service conditions spanning over 15 years, is yet to be executed.

Additionally, despite the company's recent commitment to providing arrears to contractual employees, the collective expressed dissatisfaction, considering it as blatant discrimination against permanent employees who have long been denied their rightful wage revision.

This blatant discrimination against the permanent employees who are deprived of their legitimate claim for wage revision since long, the collective asserted, labelling it an unfair labour practice.