Summary
- PIA has invited union leaders for talks amidst protests against the airline’s privatization plan and a requirement for pay rises.
- The airline is willing to debate the pay rise request, but it surely is unclear if any compromise can be made regarding the privatization plan.
Following protests by Pakistan International Airlines employees, the airline has invited the union for talks. PIA staff have protested against the airline’s privatization plan and need pay rises.
PIA to carry talks with employees
The Pakistani carrier has been rocked by a series of protests from union People’s Unity of Pakistan International Airlines CBA. Despite initially taking a tough line with legal motion and arrests, ARY News reports that PIA is now inviting its employees to conduct talks.
A PIA spokesperson confirmed this, stating that talks can be held in Islamabad regarding the pay rise request. Nonetheless, it’s unclear if the carrier is willing to compromise on anything pertaining to its privatization plan – union leaders have reiterated that they’ll not allow the airline’s privatization plan to go ahead under any circumstances.
Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock
People’s Unity CBA president Hidayatullah Khan conducted a press conference last week condemning the airline’s planned privatization, stating it will have a detrimental impact on PIA salaries, its standard of service, and its symbolic position because the nation’s flag carrier.
PIA’s latest plan would see the airline split into two separate entities. The carrier has faced growing losses up to now yr – a spokesperson has said that, while salaries can be revised, to accomplish that immediately would “.”
Union leader arrests
In response to the protests, PIA launched legal motion against its protesting staff, arguing that their actions violated the Pakistan Essential Services Maintenance Act, which doesn’t permit ‘negligence’ – reminiscent of protests or sit-ins – in an important line of duty like business aviation.
Photo: Wirestock / Shutterstock
Dawn reports that for the past two weeks, a gaggle of around 150 serving and retired PIA employees have staged protests outside PIA’s head office. A PIA official claimed that this group stormed the pinnacle office on Friday, forcing PIA to suspend vital operational and administrative work which “risked the protection of aircraft and put lives of a whole lot of passengers in peril.” Union leaders have denied this happened, claiming it to be a “fake” case.
Do you think that Pakistan International Airlines employees are justified of their strike motion? Do you think that the airline should go ahead with its privatization plan? Tell us your insights within the comments.