The Hindu : Airline staff's demand met

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 20, 2003

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Airline staff's demand met

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI FEB. 19. The proposed one-day strike by airline employees slated for tomorrow to demand revocation of income tax on free pass perks has been called off after an assurance by the Government that their demand would be considered favourably.

The central office-bearers of unions and associations of Indian Airlines employees had a meeting this morning at the airline headquarters which was attended by the airline CMD, Sunil Arora.

It was explained to them that the matter of exempting free and concessional air tickets to the employees had been under consideration of the Department of Revenue, Finance Ministry. Their demand had been "favourably considered'' by the Finance Minister, they were told. After the Government's view was explained to the central office-bearers, they agreed to withdraw the proposed day-long strike, according to an Indian Airlines spokesman here.

According to Vaskar J. Deka, Regional Secretary of the Air India Employees' Guild, the Finance Ministry conveyed to them that their demand would be considered favourably.

Welcoming the decision of the National Action Committee of all airline employees, the umbrella organisation of 15 unions of the aviation industry which had called the strike, the Civil Aviation Minister, Shanawaz Hussain, said: "I am happy that the problem has been resolved amicably and the air travellers will not face any problem.''

A majority of the aviation sector employees had served notice to their managements for going on a 24-hour nationwide strike beginning 0600 hours on Thursday. The letter of the Finance Ministry, addressed to the action committee, said: "The matter relating to exempting the free /concessional tickets provided to airline employees as perquisites under the Income Tax Act, 1961, has been favourably considered by the Finance and Company Affairs Minister. The same may be communicated to all concerned.'' Later, a joint statement by leaders of all unions and federations said that in view of the communication, the action committee had withdrawn its one-day strike as the demand had been acceded to by the Finance Ministry.

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