New Delhi:
Upping the ante as their agitation enters the 48th day, Air India pilots will today begin an indefinite hunger-strike in the national capital to highlight their demands relating to career progression and other issues.
The Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), which has been de-recognised by the airline management for leading the ongoing agitation, said on Saturday that a batch of ten of its members would begin the hunger-strike "to protest against discrimination and exploitation by the Air India management".
"We want this strike to end as soon as possible, but we will not come back to work till our 101 sacked colleagues are reinstated," an IPG leader, requesting anonymity, told PTI.
The first batch of ten pilots would start the protest action, he said, adding that their family members and other striking pilots would also join them in the protest which has been going on since May 7.
The IPG leader said "a myth has been spread that we are the highest-paid employees. We will try to correct that by showing the people our salary slips; we are not being paid astronomical amounts as is being spread."
The strike, which has led Air India to curtail its international long-haul flight schedule, has been declared illegal by the government and the Delhi High Court. The ailing national carrier has been operating 38 out of 45 services for over a month now.