Poorly paid technicians bare Go First’s delicate finances

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Editor's note: AS, an aircraft maintenance technician with low-cost carrier Go First, is disappointed. And helpless. He was one of the scores of technicians at the Wadia Group airline to call in sick as a protest against low pay. As technicians from nearly all bases of the airline joined in the protest over the last few days, AS’s hopes soared. It helped that counterparts at IndiGo managed to get a hike, or at least the promise of one, after a similar action.   It was not to be. In a meeting called by senior executives from Go First’s maintenance and human resource departments on Friday morning, AS and his colleagues were informed that there won’t be any hike in pay. “We were told we were free to leave. But those who continue to call in sick will be terminated. Helpless, we had to join back,” says AS.  It may look like the Go First management’s aggressive stance has won them the day. But the truth is that the airline has no option. “We have been told that the company is facing losses of …