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The Rediff Special/Insiya Rasiwala

Airhostesses go ballistic over Air-India's gender bias

The war between the Air-India management and airhostesses over gender discrimination seems to be hotting up, with both the parties refusing to budge.

The clash intensified a month ago, when the airhostesses petitioned the A B Vajpayee government against the unfair treatment that they have been receiving from their management. They have even threatened to sue Air-India for sexual discrimination at the workplace.

The root of the trouble goes back to the year 1989, when the Indian government passed a law raising the retirement age of all government employees to 58.

At the same time, instructions were given to the national carriers, Indian Airlines and Air-India, to follow this rule.

Interestingly, Indian Airlines soon fixed the retirement age for crew of both sexes at 58. Its international counterpart, Air-India, however, allowed women to work until they were 60, but barred them from flying after the age of 50. Their cause, however, received a boost when former minister of state for civil aviation Jayanti Natarajan tabled a motion in the Rajya Sabha, demanding an end to this "unconstitutional" and "very unfortunate" discrimination. Before she could translate her intent into action, however, the United Front government fell.

"This is complete discrimination," points out an airhostess on condition of anonymity. "Does a fit and active woman suddenly become unfit and inefficient when she reaches 50? Men can work on board beyond 50, even when they are obese and inefficient."

The airhostesses are also angry about the fact that by this decision, they have to face salary cuts amounting to as much as 75 per cent and are relegated to mundane, clerical jobs on the ground.

Expressing her displeasure, another airhostess pointed out, "Flying is no longer seen as a glamorous job, or a ticket to marriage beyond. And besides, do people choose an airline for its service or for the looks of the flight attendants? Nowadays women view air-hostessing as a career, and are often the only breadwinners of their families, either as single women, divorcees or the only earning member of a household."

In spite of repeated efforts, nobody from Air-India management was available for comment.

Interestingly, in most of other international airlines, the retirement age for both the sexes is equal. British Airways, for example, allows its international inflight hospitality personnel - both male and female -- to serve until the age of 45.

The airhostesses feel that Air-India is a highly male-centric organisation.

The employment structure allows only men, not women, to become assistant pursers, pursers and supervisors, even when the latter are more experienced than men. Elaborating on this, an airhostess points out angrily, " I have worked with Air-India for 20 years, but have served as a hostess under a purser, five years my junior, whom I had myself earlier trained at an inflight training session."

"Not only this," points out another airhostess, "But, we had to literally fight the administration for many years to gain marriage and pregnancy benefits."

Realising the discriminatory policies in the organisation, the airhostesses formed their own union, the Air-India Hostess Association several years ago, a separate entity from the larger employee's union, Air-India Cabin Crew Association.

The AIHA, however, realised that though it was a registered body, the management conducted all negotiations only with the AICCA.

Seeking more weight in the organisation, the airhostesses next joined hands with some male supporters and formed the Crew Organisation of Stewards and Stewardesses on June 4, 1997. At present, this union also does not enjoy official recognition, but is determined to make its presence felt.

"Women in our organisation have always had to fight," say the airhostesses, "It is absolutely ridiculous that such practices exist today, in the eve of the 21st century. "

Reacting to the gender bias, women's activist Farida Lambay said, "Women are looked upon as decorative objects. The general opinion among people is that airhostesses should be good looking. But, I feel -- instead -- that people should have an attitude that an airhostess must have a pleasant mannerism."

Agreeing with this, eminent lawyer Kamini Jaiswal said, "Unlike men, women do the household work till they die. So, it is wrong to say that they should not work beyond 50 while men can."

The Rediff Specials

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