The country 's national carrier Air India is facing losses worth Rs 4000 crores - this is a reason it has delayed staff salaries. With no money coming in, nearly 20,000 workers across the country went on a protest. Services were not affected but the agitation has angered the Air India chief who says it's down to a choice between austerity and oblivion.

There were angry protests by Air India employees outside the Mumbai airport. It was a two hour agitation that was joined by 20,000 employees across the country - mainly baggage handlers and loaders.

The reason? The workers want their June salaries and the cash-strapped airline can't afford to pay. The management threatened a crackdown but the protests continued. Services though were not affected.

"We will request the PM for a CBI enquiry on the financial mess. We feel cheated with the management making false promises," said George Abraham, Aviation Industry Employees Guild.

The airline has delayed salaries to 32,000 employees by a fortnight, but had agreed to pay its lower grade staff by Friday, a promise it could not keep.

By now, Air India's patience with its unions is running thin.

In a sharply worded letter Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav said: It appears the gravity of the financial situation has not sunk in.  If fuel and bank liabilities are not paid on time, operations could stop. We need to make a choice between austerity and oblivion."

Thousands of employees feel let down by this management and they will not relent as far as their wages are concerned - clearly this is a deadlock between the union and management which will not end soon.