No salary: Kingfisher employees in a limbo

Kingfisher Airline employees, who have not received their May salary despite an assurance from the airline management, are likely to chalk out an action plan next week, if they do not receive their dues by November 17.

"Diwali has come and gone but we have still not received the salary for the month of May. The management, as usual, has once again backtracked on its commitment and there is no word from them on payment," sources in airline staff told PTI.

"We will wait till Saturday for the payment of May salary. If the airline does not pay by November 17, we will chalk out our further action plan," they said.

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The grounded airline continues to maintain silence over the payment to its nearly 3,000 employees, despite an assurance from the management last month that the third tranche of the dues would be paid by Diwali, they said.

A text message sent to airline spokesperson did not elicit any response. The Vijay Mallya-promoted private carrier, which has been grounded since October 1 when its pilots and engineers went on a strike, has not paid to most of its staff since May.

The strike was, however, called off late last month after airline's chief executive Sanjay Aggarwal assured them a staggered payment of three months dues before Diwali.

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had suspended the flying licence of Kingfisher Airlines and asked it to submit a comprehensive revival plan.

"March salary will be paid on or before October 25...the April salary on or before October 31 and May salary before Diwali. In essence, they will receive three months of salary before Diwali," Aggarwal had told the employees in an email.

Incidentally, the peace between agitating employees and the management was brokered on the eve of the second edition of the Indian Grand Prix late last month in Greater Noida, when the employees had threatened to disrupt the international motor racing event.