Woes and worries: PIA unions against new aviation policy

Say no feedback was taken from stakeholders.

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) unions have once again come together under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee of PIA Employees (JACPIAE) to counter the fallout of the new aviation policy on the national carrier.

Members of 12 different unions met recently to review a draft of the policy and wrote a letter to the PIA chairman, detailing their concern over proposed liberalisation of the country’s airspace.

“There is nothing in this policy to safeguard the interest of either PIA or other domestic private airlines,” said JACPIAE Chairman Sohail Baluch. “It actually looks like a sell-out to the Middle Eastern carriers.”

The letter says even the United States was moving to safeguard the interest of its airlines. It also said no feedback was taken from stakeholders in the aviation industry including PIA and other domestic airlines.

The committee demanded that the employees should be informed about the ongoing divestment process for PIA.

“Videoconference meetings being held behind closed doors are raising many eyebrows. Sensitive information is being passed on to a group of foreigners who have no concern with respect to safeguarding the rights of PIA employees,” it said.

PIA employs thousands of workers who face job losses if the government goes ahead with its privatisation plan.

The apex union raised concern about the hiring of people on senior management positions from outside the company when hundreds of its employees were sitting idle.

About the use of wet-leased aircraft, it said PIA’s own planes were not being utilised for want of spare parts.

“We have cannibalised one of our own Boeing 777 aircraft,” said Baluch. “We should instead fix all our planes and get them in the air.”

PIA executives have fought a long battle against the open skies policy since it was introduced in the 1990s.

Management’s view

In its response to the JACPIAE’s letter, the PIA management said Baluch’s “statement is malicious and misleading and is an attempt to spread disinformation.”

It said the management was part of the consultative process for the formulation of the policy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd,  2015.

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