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Friday, June 15, 2001

Cathay pilots say sorry before industrial action.

JO BOWMAN
Cathay Pacific pilots issued an apology to passengers and the public yesterday ahead of summer industrial action they warned would "blemish Hong Kong's efforts to establish itself as Asia's world city".
Both the pilots' union and the company say they want to negotiate an end to their long-running battle over pay and conditions, but with next week's vote on industrial action looming, the public was warned to expect flight cancellations.

Aircrew Officers Association general secretary John Findlay said disruptions could last more than a year if Cathay did not give in to at least some of their demands. He advised travellers holding tickets for Cathay flights in July and August to transfer to partner airlines in the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways and Qantas.

"We very much regret that it's come to this and the inconvenience this will cause to the travelling public," he said.

Cathay last night said it was still taking bookings for the summer and expressed disappointment that the union was threatening to disrupt flights.

"Cathay Pacific does not believe industrial action will benefit anyone, and management will continue to do all it can to resolve the issue by negotiation."

Union leaders are this morning meeting Cathay chairman James Hughes-Hallett and chief operating officer Philip Chen Nan-lok to discuss a return to negotiations, possibly involving the Labour Department.

But next Wednesday's vote by union members - who make up the bulk of Cathay's pilot body - for "limited industrial action" is going ahead. Cathay yesterday issued a public plea for the pilots to negotiate a settlement, saying the union had walked out on talks at the end of April. The union disputes this.

The airline said the threat of industrial action was disappointing as agreement had already been reached on many issues. It has said the union has rejected many "generous" offers.

The dispute is over a range of issues, including work rosters and pilots' demands for pay rises for junior crew. Each side accuses the other of making misleading statements.

Mr Findlay said the union was willing to talk with Cathay in the hope of reaching an agreement.

"But refusal to recognise pilots' concerns would, from July 1, result in action that will blemish Hong Kong's efforts to establish itself as Asia's world city."

Sources have told the South China Morning Post the action includes a go-slow and restrictions on which pilots land planes so that many crew are soon disqualified from flying.

"We will continue progressively increasing the industrial action until we achieve our goals," Mr Findlay said.