Letter Reference Number: AIESL/FTE/AIRCRAFT-TECHNICIAN/01

th
Date: 26 June 2018

To,

The C.E.O and C.M.D,

Air India Limited

Respected Sir,

SUBJECT:

A REQUEST TO EITHER PAY US WELL AND ON TIME OR LEAVE US ALONE.

We, the newly recruited Aircraft Technicians (FTE) of AIESL joined in year 2017/2018 whole heartedly thank
you for providing us the opportunity to work with the flag carrier of our nation. Also your kind attention is drawn
towards some of the major problems we are facing. We have put across earlier, the same matter to our Dy. GMs of
respective stations. Although they admit they understand our problems, clearly stated that they are helpless and
frankly insisted we should collectively bring this to the notice of respected CMD and CEO. We believe that Aircraft
Maintenance Technicians and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers are the core and soul of AIESL. Hence, we pen this
letter to both of you to draw your kind attention towards the manner by which your Aircraft Technicians are given
remuneration, inconsideration and disrespect.

TIRED OF LISTENING TO THE SLOGAN “We have not got any information regarding FTE’s policies”.

Till date, there exists no competent authority to go to, who stands accountable for authentic information
about the policies for the newly recruited Aircraft Technicians.(For example, information regarding issuance of
industrial shoes, rainwear, safety equipment, etc.) We can give you endless examples of incidences when nobody
knew anything about the policies made for us, Nobody even knows who the policy maker is. Not even my Dy.GM
could give me a clear “Go-To-Person’s” name. Be it Finance, Personnel or Engineering, Everyone has the same slogan
“We have not got any information regarding FTE’s policies”. Then how does your wonderful company work sir? It is
really demotivating. We believe still, we don’t have a clear cut, effective and responsible way of communication.
Hence, requesting you to do the needful for the same.

THE EMOLUMENTS YOU PROVIDE DOESN’T EVEN COME CLOSE TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

As per the company’s fixed term contract, We will be getting paid Rs.20,000 per month for the next 5 years.
As our terms and conditions are completely different from that of previous employees, we are not eligible for any
other additional benefits which they are availing. The above mentioned point was not clearly mentioned at the time
of joining and the only thing mentioned was the remuneration for the first year. When we asked your Personnel
department at the time of joining, about what our salary will be, post completion of the first year, their answer was
“Then, salary will be as per company policy” .But, none of them were able to show us what the company policy was.
Still, we joined the organization, not expecting the company to be giving us flimsy payment, mediocre salary
revisions, increments and benefits for the years to come. We expected salary hikes, increments and revisions in
accordance with industry standards after the first year because the bond mentioned, salary will be “under
revision” and now we are kind of “trapped”.
 In this state we expect at least to be paid sufficient salary to sustain as we are solely dependent on that.
Most of us being posted at stations other than our native places, survival with Rs.20,000 is extremely difficult as
some of us are even required to send a major part of our salary to our families.
In contrast to the salary of AIESL’s “AIRCRAFT TECHNICIANS”, even “JUNIOR AIRCRAFT TECHNICIANS” who
work with companies like Indigo, Air Asia, Jet Airways and many others, get paid an average of Rs.19,000 per month
+ night shift allowances + Rs.130 per hour of OT+ Annual Bonuses + Gratuity+ “More than enough” flight tickets. To
make a clear comparison, Vistara pays their “AIRCRAFT TECHNICIANS” Rs.30,000-Rs.32,000 + Passages+ OT+ Other
Allowances and benefits, whereas our prestigious national carrier pays us only Rs.20,000 per month with no benefits
at all. This clearly shows that the salary we are paid doesn’t even come anywhere close to industry standards.
Have a look at your own recruitment advertisements published recently on your website. Handyman/ ITI Fitter
etc. are offered salaries around Rs.16,000/Rs.17,000 which are under revision. Even your painters and tailors are
paid Rs.20,000. Do you see Painters and Aircraft Technicians in the same category? Are we only worth that? Please
keep in view of the fact that we being technically qualified (Diploma Holders, Engineering Graduates & BAMEEC
holders) and the duty which we perform does involve:
 Being technically literate to understand/interpret technical literature.
 Working irrespective of weather in all sorts of environment which involves dust, dirt, noise pollution,
hazardous chemicals, fumes etc.
 Compromising with timings and body cycle.
 Handling heavy and sophisticated tools.
 Ensuring safety and that Aircraft is turned around with in time along with AME.

Since we perform a high level of technical duties, the salary which we are currently paid is hilarious and should
be considered for a better pay of a minimum of Rs.45,000 per month if the company doesn’t have any plans of
providing industry standard- salary, salary increments, gratuity, salary revisions, OT rates, perks, company
medicals, night shift allowances, annual bonuses, passages and other benefits during the whole contractual
period.

Adding to that, just for information, at time of our joining, all of us had signed an Indemnity Bond for amount of
Rs.3 lakhs for a period 3 years. As per that even if we were to quit the organization, we are supposed to pay
liquidated damages to company. Most of us being from middle class families cannot afford that huge amount which
means we are not left with any other option other than to unwillingly and half-mindedly serve the company. In this
case at least if we are paid sufficient salary, none of us will have a second thought. We will be satisfactorily serving
the company with best team outputs. With reference to above point, we would like to bring to your notice that most
of other selected candidates have not joined because of the silly remuneration offered, Indemnity bond condition
and current scenario faced by the present Aircraft Technicians and some of the candidates who joined have already
resigned and it will continue to happen if things go in such a pathetic way.

Most of us have completed 1 year with the company and till today, there has been no official notification in
connection to our future salary structure, medicals, OT, night shift allowances, annual bonuses and passages etc. We
are not aware till now of our career progression. Most of us have joined AIESL having resigned from much better
jobs (in terms of salary). It is with extreme difficulty we are living our lives with career uncertainty. Neither you are
providing us with the deserving salary nor are you crediting it on time. Our salary for the month of May got delayed
for 2 weeks. As we are contractual employees, you may or may not renew our contract after 5 years. So, we are
least bothered about the company’s difficulties or its current state.

HUMAN FACTORS

Although you take great classes on Human factors, our national flag carrier doesn’t seem to know that human
factors exist at all. We are forced to work overtime usually for another complete shift very often (Mostly in contact
with hazardous chemicals, vapors, whether it’s storm, pouring rain or scorching heat. And what do we get paid?
Petty Rs.85 per hour. Even your security staff gets paid Rs.130 per hour for overtime, same with the case with
Aircraft Technicians employed with other companies. For example, your competitor, (even a budget) airline pays its
Junior Aircraft Technicians 200% OT rates on holidays. Same is story with night shift allowances.
If the company treats us Aircraft Technicians, the bunch of people who is responsible for safety of the aircraft
and ultimately whom your passenger’s lives rely upon, with such negligence and inconsideration, please tell us a
reason to stay happily employed with this organization. It’s like we have been cheated. You could have clearly
mentioned in the appointment letter, your plan with us and the remuneration for the whole contractual period,
and none of us would have joined this sinking company at all. We understand that the company is going through a
crisis but we wonder why on earth you employed us in the first place if you can’t pay us in accordance with industry
standards. Now, just because of our prestigious national airline, we are literally trapped for the next 2-3 years and
more than 1200 young men’s and women’s career life is hopeless for the years to come and so are our dependents.

Keeping in mind all of the above points we, the only future of Air India Engineering Services Limited request you
to kindly cope up with industry standards and if not possible, do the needful to break our Indemnity Bond so that
your company doesn’t ruin the lives of 1200+ people and their dependents’. We hope you would seriously ponder
over our request and do the needful as soon as practicable.

Yours Faithfully

AIRCRAFT TECHNICIANS [F.T.E]

AIR INDIA ENGINEERING SERVICES LIMITED