Notwithstanding a warning by Air India management, employees of the national carrier "walked out" of work for two hours on Friday afternoon as part of their nationwide protest against delayed payment of salaries.

The protest, called by Aviation Industry Employees Guild (AIEG), Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) and some other unions, saw employees coming out of their offices in Delhi and Mumbai and stage demonstrations from one pm besides threatening to boycott their meetings with the management.

Around 300 employees, carrying red flags, assembled in front of the old terminal shouting slogans in Delhi against the management and demanding immediate payment of salaries.

"The government cannot defer the salary as per Payment of Wages Act. It must pay the salary by July ten. The company is not following rules and regulations and taking decisions which is not in the interests of employees," J B Kadiyan, General Secretary of ACEU, said.

In Mumbai, AIEG General Secretary, George Abraham, said, "We are staging a walk-out and demonstration for two hours as the management has failed to honour its commitment given to the unions to pay our June salaries by today."

There were no reports of disruption of AI services from the airport due to the protest.

The workers went ahead with their strike despite a Staff Notice issued earlier in the day by AI warning that "any participation in the illegal strike would be viewed seriously and appropriate action, including deduction of wages and withdrawal of Productivity-Linked Incentive till further orders, will be taken."

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