Work-to-rule looms at Cathay Pacific
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Work-to-rule looms at Cathay Pacific
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Work-to-rule looms at Cathay Pacific
Pilots' union sends letter to members in preparation for industrial action amid deadlock over pay
PHILA SIU
[email protected]
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 30 August, 2014, 4:30am
UPDATED : Saturday, 30 August, 2014, 4:47am
Cathay Pacific passengers should brace for possible industrial action after the association representing cockpit crew stepped up its preparations for a work-to-rule protest. Photo: Felix Wong
Cathay Pacific passengers should brace for possible industrial action after the association representing cockpit crew stepped up its preparations for a work-to-rule protest.
The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association recently sent a letter to its 1,900 members, telling them what they should do and be aware of in the event of a work-to-rule, or contract compliance, sources close to the union say.
"Basically all the newsletter says is follow your contract, no more, no less. Contract compliance is in essence the withdrawal of goodwill, something that the company has been relying on for far too long without acknowledging it," a source said.
In September last year, about 90 per cent of the association's members voted for a motion that authorised it to press ahead with industrial action if the airline did not give a satisfactory reply to the association's undisclosed pay rise demands. But the association decided against the action and started talks with the airline around the end of last year.
The airline has a total of about 2,900 pilots.
General secretary Chris Beebe said the union would continue to engage in discussions with the airline and that no conclusion had been reached.
"It is our job to make sure that pilots have some sort of stability in life," he said, adding that Cathay had not set a deadline on the talks.
A source close to the negotiations said the airline's offer was "not within spitting distance" of what the association was demanding.
But the airline's exact offer and the association's demands remain unclear as both sides have agreed on confidentiality.
A work-to-rule means that the pilots would work according to what their contract requires. For example, pilots would refuse to work on rostered days off.
A source said that many pilots, especially the junior ones, were being called in on days off two or three times a month, disturbing their time with friends and family.
Another source said the impact of a work-to-rule on passengers would be "significant", especially in unexpected situations such as a typhoon, because Cathay did not have enough pilots on standby.
Flight cancellations and delays could be expected if the actions eventually took place, the source said.
An airline spokesman said that the negotiations were continuing.
"Both parties have also agreed that no action will be taken whilst this process is ongoing. Cathay Pacific has complied with, and will continue to comply with, the obligations of confidentiality during the negotiating process as agreed to in the 'good faith bargaining framework agreement'," he said.
The association threatened work-to-rule action in 2010, but decided not to go ahead with it when a 12.3 per cent raise was offered over three years.
The last work-to-rule, in 2001, led to the sacking of 49 pilots in one day.
Pilots' union sends letter to members in preparation for industrial action amid deadlock over pay
PHILA SIU
[email protected]
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 30 August, 2014, 4:30am
UPDATED : Saturday, 30 August, 2014, 4:47am
Cathay Pacific passengers should brace for possible industrial action after the association representing cockpit crew stepped up its preparations for a work-to-rule protest. Photo: Felix Wong
Cathay Pacific passengers should brace for possible industrial action after the association representing cockpit crew stepped up its preparations for a work-to-rule protest.
The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association recently sent a letter to its 1,900 members, telling them what they should do and be aware of in the event of a work-to-rule, or contract compliance, sources close to the union say.
"Basically all the newsletter says is follow your contract, no more, no less. Contract compliance is in essence the withdrawal of goodwill, something that the company has been relying on for far too long without acknowledging it," a source said.
In September last year, about 90 per cent of the association's members voted for a motion that authorised it to press ahead with industrial action if the airline did not give a satisfactory reply to the association's undisclosed pay rise demands. But the association decided against the action and started talks with the airline around the end of last year.
The airline has a total of about 2,900 pilots.
General secretary Chris Beebe said the union would continue to engage in discussions with the airline and that no conclusion had been reached.
"It is our job to make sure that pilots have some sort of stability in life," he said, adding that Cathay had not set a deadline on the talks.
A source close to the negotiations said the airline's offer was "not within spitting distance" of what the association was demanding.
But the airline's exact offer and the association's demands remain unclear as both sides have agreed on confidentiality.
A work-to-rule means that the pilots would work according to what their contract requires. For example, pilots would refuse to work on rostered days off.
A source said that many pilots, especially the junior ones, were being called in on days off two or three times a month, disturbing their time with friends and family.
Another source said the impact of a work-to-rule on passengers would be "significant", especially in unexpected situations such as a typhoon, because Cathay did not have enough pilots on standby.
Flight cancellations and delays could be expected if the actions eventually took place, the source said.
An airline spokesman said that the negotiations were continuing.
"Both parties have also agreed that no action will be taken whilst this process is ongoing. Cathay Pacific has complied with, and will continue to comply with, the obligations of confidentiality during the negotiating process as agreed to in the 'good faith bargaining framework agreement'," he said.
The association threatened work-to-rule action in 2010, but decided not to go ahead with it when a 12.3 per cent raise was offered over three years.
The last work-to-rule, in 2001, led to the sacking of 49 pilots in one day.
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It's too bad that it has taken them this long to get to this stage
Almost a year wasted with fruitless negotiations , we missed CNY , summer peak travel season and a number of other golden opportunities
Now Malaysian is laying off 6000 staff
So whilst the AOA fiddled Opportunities passed us by unbelievable !!!
Almost a year wasted with fruitless negotiations , we missed CNY , summer peak travel season and a number of other golden opportunities
Now Malaysian is laying off 6000 staff
So whilst the AOA fiddled Opportunities passed us by unbelievable !!!
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joblow
It's unbelievable that the AOA still entertains "last-minute-walk-in-offers" by the company, AFTER having sent out a letter to members stating that pay negotiations have been put to bed!!!
Seriously? The simple truth that the latest "offer" (read:another stall tactic) is even being looked at by the AOA GC, shows a complete lack of understanding of their whole GFBA (good faith bull), or the fact that the AOA GC is too much of a lame duck to even admit that their whole GFBA was a complete cock-up, an utter waste of time, members money washed down the drain, whilst management keeps laughing - all the way to the bank with their bonuses, with every passing month of zero action from those " hugely overpaid and underworked pilots!"
Watch this space: a pathetic, hastily put together offer will be presented to the membership in a week or two, NO DOUBT "recommended" by the GC (to avoid some serious face-losing over the GFBA), and voted in by a magic 51% of the membership, in a "once only, take it - best ever you're gonna get deal"
It's unbelievable that the AOA still entertains "last-minute-walk-in-offers" by the company, AFTER having sent out a letter to members stating that pay negotiations have been put to bed!!!
Seriously? The simple truth that the latest "offer" (read:another stall tactic) is even being looked at by the AOA GC, shows a complete lack of understanding of their whole GFBA (good faith bull), or the fact that the AOA GC is too much of a lame duck to even admit that their whole GFBA was a complete cock-up, an utter waste of time, members money washed down the drain, whilst management keeps laughing - all the way to the bank with their bonuses, with every passing month of zero action from those " hugely overpaid and underworked pilots!"
Watch this space: a pathetic, hastily put together offer will be presented to the membership in a week or two, NO DOUBT "recommended" by the GC (to avoid some serious face-losing over the GFBA), and voted in by a magic 51% of the membership, in a "once only, take it - best ever you're gonna get deal"
Don't be so sure about that scenario.
Everyone and I mean everyone is soooooo pissed off I can't say anyone voting yes to a crap deal.
Stop selling your colleagues short.
Everyone and I mean everyone is soooooo pissed off I can't say anyone voting yes to a crap deal.
Stop selling your colleagues short.
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Brave talk on an anonymous forum. However, you KNOW that you will roll over and the Company KNOWS that you will roll over and accept the crumbs that they deem to sweep off the table for you.
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We lose NOTHING by going VFR direct to work to rule right now.
It's simply abiding by the terms of the contract--no more, no less.
Negotiations can continue while work to rule is in place.
The GFBA has been of value only in education as to how stalling tactics can work.
Enough.
It's simply abiding by the terms of the contract--no more, no less.
Negotiations can continue while work to rule is in place.
The GFBA has been of value only in education as to how stalling tactics can work.
Enough.
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@ Overboobs
By voting for new blood to join the GC, individuals who have the ballz to stand up and call a spade - a spade and who are not afraid to pussy foot around for 9 months like the current GC.
Have you put your name down or done anything to get "us" a payrise - thought so..
By voting for new blood to join the GC, individuals who have the ballz to stand up and call a spade - a spade and who are not afraid to pussy foot around for 9 months like the current GC.
Have you put your name down or done anything to get "us" a payrise - thought so..
