Our jobs are not safe anymore: Jet staff

After two nightmarish days, thousands of young employees of Jet Airways are relieved that they can join work on Saturday.

The Jet Airways management had summarily dismissed 1,900 employees, a first for the Indian aviation history, crashing many a high-flying dream.  The hapless youngsters went through a harrowing experience and are still under the fear that their jobs might not be secure any more. 

A good majority feel that their happiness will be short-lived. Many are yet to recover from the shock and feel that this could happen again in the near future. "The next time they will give us one or two months' notice and ask us to leave," says Suresh Deshpande.

When Suresh joined Jet Airways as a flight attendant a year ago, it was a dream come true. He took pride in being an employee of India's leading airline. Little did he realise then that it would not last long.

"It was a wonderful experience working with Jet. I enjoyed the work very much," he says.

Tejas Shah, a flight attendant, says a job with Jet was something he was waiting for over an year. Finally, when he got it, his joy knew no bounds. A good pay package, transport facilities, good environment, additional pay for extra hours. . . it was a great beginning for them. Early this week, they started hearing rumours about perks going to be cancelled, etc, but they never thought that they would be asked to leave with immediate effect.

"Finally, we came to know the good news while watching the news channels last night. Some of our colleagues were called in the morning and told to attend a meeting with our chairman, Naresh Goyal. He met with some of our colleagues and assured that our jobs would be safe," says Suresh.

In the meeting with employees, Goyal again apologised and said he was not aware that the cabin crew were being sacked. But assurances from the company chief have hardly brought relief to many of them, who fear that they will face the axe again as the situation worsens. Many of them are planning to leave as they have lost confidence in the company.

"Now the company will find fault with us and send us a memo for even pardonable offences. It is best that we quit and find better options," says Suresh.

Some feel that this was just a business strategy by the airline to get a bailout package from the government. "It was a ploy on their part to play with our lives and get funds from the government," says P Vaishali, who has been with the airline for about an year.

However, the reinstated employees were assured that there would be no cut in their salaries."We were like one family. I will not mind even if there is a 50 per cent cut in my salary, but I need the job. I understand that we are going through a crisis but this is no way to throw people out. We joined the airline with high hopes," says Tejas.

Suresh and his colleagues feel that his company succumbed to political pressure. Some of them are even contemplating to form a union with the backing of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. "I never believed in politics. But after this incident I have started to believe that they can change lives too!" Tejas says.

About 100 cabin crew members met Raj Thackeray, on Friday evening and thanked him for his support. "Mr Thackeray was happy that we went back to thank him. He told us not to worry and to enjoy Diwali," a staffer who met him said, unaware that political parties are trying to gain mileage from the entire episode.

Despite their jobs being given back to them, this Diwali might not be a sparkling one for these youngsters. "I'm staying as a paying guest and I desperately wanted to move into a small flat. I was all set to move into a flat in Andheri when this happened," says a worried Tejas.

"I hope the crisis is over in six months and the aviation sector regains its glory," feels a dejected Tejas, who still harbours big hopes. Jet Airways always enjoyed a good load factor, feel crew members.

"I have never seen a Jet flight going below 50 to 60 per cent capacity. How does the question of an unprofitable sector arise? Anyway, for now we are only thinking of getting back to our flights," says Suresh, adding, "I can sleep well today."

(Names changed on request)