Resentment grows among Kingfisher employees

"The airline has paid January salary to most of its pilots. However, none of the engineers have yet been paid," airlines sources told PTI here. A substantial number of ground staff is also yet to receive their January salaries. "The management intentions are questionable. It seems to be working on `divide and rule` policy by paying to a section of its staff while leaving out other employees," they alleged, adding that it looks as if it has tried to pre-empt any move by the staff to take on the management jointly on the long pending salary dues.

Mallya said in his May 5 communication to the employees that the airline will start remitting January salaries from May 9 onwards. However, then the management failed to deliver its commitment. A section of its pilots started reporting sick leading to cancellation of several flights.

But the striking pilots called-off their agitation after some tough talk by Mallya in his May 10 e-mail communication to the employees, when he vowed to deal with the situation "firmly". He also "assured" employees of paying their salaries by May 15 and said that a "significant" portion of the February salaries would be paid by the month-end. A text message to airlines spokesperson did not yield any response.