Mumbai: Over a dozen unions of Air India came out strongly against the government's second bid to sell the financially-crippled national carrier, union sources said.
Media reports said the government has set an October deadline to complete the process. Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani had called a meeting of all the 13 unions of the airline to discuss the privatisation plan.
"The forum of 13 unions have decided to oppose the privatisation move," a union functionary said. Union representatives told the management that they were ready to do anything to turn around the carrier but would not "accept" privatisation at any cost, the source said.
Another union functionary said that the unions demanded a meeting with the Aviation Ministry as well as Finance Ministry over this issue. "The unions have asked for the payment of all pending arrears first, before considering anything. Moreover, they have also asked for protection of all post-retirement benefits of employees," the functionary said.
Lohani told the unions that Air India's divestment is on the Centre's agenda and it would happen, the functionary added. The Modi government in its first term had also tried to exit from the airline business but failed to get a buyer, forcing it to defer the plans.
The government earmarked a paltry Rs 1 lakh from the budget for the airline, that has been somehow keeping afloat. The AI unions have consistently been opposing any bid to sell the Maharaja.
