Jet Airways staff unrest could spoil deal with Etihad

The unrest is unlikely to create a hurdle in the deal, sources in the airline said adding that the employees may even get some of their demands met to ensure there is no escalation of the protest.

However, a person in the know of the development, said, “The protest will definitely not affect any possible deal with Etihad.”

“As regards the grievances, the management will obviously hear them out and an amicable solution can be reached by accepting some, if not all, of their demands,” the person added.

Some sections of Jet Airways’ technicians have started wearing black armbands to protest a management proposal to freeze wage hikes for the next two to three years.

“It is not just the possible freeze on wage hike we are protesting, it’s a combination of issues,” said one of the technicians at Jet Airways on condition of anonymity. “We are working nearly 12 hours a day in harsh working conditions at one-tenth the salary that our Gulf counterparts get. On top of that, salaries are often coming late so if they stop wage hikes then it will be very unfair.”

Asked whether the Etihad-deal had anything to do with the timing of the protest, the technician said, “All we hear is media reports about

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