![](http://im.rediff.com/money/2009/aug/25airindia.jpg)
"Air India will disburse the August wages/salaries to its employees on schedule, that is on the last day of the month, as is the practise," an airline spokesperson said.
The announcement came as unions began negotiations with the management on issues like productivity-linked incentives (PLI), flying and other allowances.
Earlier in the day, several unions jointly began a three-day hunger strike over delay in payment of salaries and other issues.
Protesting employees raised slogans and carried placards at the IGI airport, where they were addressed by their leaders.
The unions, including the Aviation Industry Employees Guild (AIEG) and Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU), launched the protest action with ACEU General Secretary J B Kadian saying, "the management is rigid over payment of our salaries".
He also warned that they would launch protest action again on August 31 if their negotiations with the management failed.
"For the past two months, we have been working for betterment of the airlines, but the management is adamant on the 50 per cent cut in our salaries. It is not acceptable to us," Kadian said.