Dear DFO
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Dear DFO
In response to your letter from a few days ago:
Indeed you are correct. Cathay Pacific is one of the world's leading airlines. And indeed you are correct again in saying that a great airline is created by it's people. I think you need to really keep this in mind when you read your own letters to the troops.
I know how tough it is in the airline industry. However, I am sick of hearing this over and over again. Even when profits are good and fuel prices are down, we hear the same rhetoric. Quite frankly it is condescending and is not respectful towards your employees' intelligence. And that is not just the pilots, but all employee groups. Use of such emotional words such as 'sad', 'disappointing' and 'disheartening' don't give your communications much credence.
I also find it disdainful in you are clearly setting the scene for one employee group to be singled out and copping the blame for all of Cathay's woes. Not to mention your history of pitting the different employee groups against each other. Remember, it was you that decided on arbitrarily announcing a zero percent cost of living increase for 2013, when most other employee groups received theirs without concession and with minimal negotiation. It was you that offered, with arrogant demands and inappropriate additions, a below inflationary cost of living increase for 2014(and below other employee groups average for 2014). The future increases are also below inflationary predictions. It is you that has driven the manning levels to the level that we have today, where absolute reliance is made on our good will to keep the operation running and minimize cancelled flights. Specifically it is you that has led to the freighter operation being in chaos mode, losing the company millions of dollars in freight business. It is you that has deliberately dragged out negotiations to the point where we are today, and you brazenly try to blame the HKAOA? You should thank them. It is the HKAOA that has kept the pilot group from going in to contract compliance until now, allowing the show to go on for that much longer.
It is the pilots, among other groups, that have contributed to the profits we see today. We most definitely operate the aircraft in the best interests of both the company and the shareholders - efficiently and safely. And importantly, will continue to do so despite the possibility of contract compliance. It is in all our interests to do so. Remember, this contract compliance revolves around contactability outside required times i.e. in our rest time. It has NO effect on the way we operate the aircraft once at work. To say otherwise is not only untrue, but insults our intelligence, and that of the general population. You are aware, of course, that the company itself has always been in continual contract compliance.
I see no accountability in fuel hedging losses. I see no accountability in massive cargo fines. I see no accountability in lost opportunities. This is not management, nor is it leadership.
Yes - I do share you extreme frustration in not moving on to other matters. Some of which could and should have been signed off many years ago when promised by the company(housing, as an example). So much for good faith.
You accusing us of considering practices that will damage the company is scaremongering, absolutely untrue and a complete distortion of what the reality is. See above. Any action is not meant to damage the company. It is a reality check on where things would be save for our good will.
As for the AOA 'accepting' your open invitation, the doors have always been open. Again, you distort the reality and attempt to apportion blame to the HKAOA for the lack of progress. The positiveness(positivity?) of any outcome is squarely in your hands.
The contract compliance vote, despite your statement to the contrary, IS directly related to the pay deal. I never hear of any sustainability talk when it comes to cost of living increases, consistently above ours, for other employee groups.
There is no argument to the company's policy on harassment or intimidation. This is clearly supported by the HKAOA and all employees. It is up to you not to use it as an intimidation tool yourself with questionable acts, frivolous accusations or scaremongering.
The recent deal was recommended by the HKAOA with a gun to their head.
Yours sincerely
Just a day to day employee.
Indeed you are correct. Cathay Pacific is one of the world's leading airlines. And indeed you are correct again in saying that a great airline is created by it's people. I think you need to really keep this in mind when you read your own letters to the troops.
I know how tough it is in the airline industry. However, I am sick of hearing this over and over again. Even when profits are good and fuel prices are down, we hear the same rhetoric. Quite frankly it is condescending and is not respectful towards your employees' intelligence. And that is not just the pilots, but all employee groups. Use of such emotional words such as 'sad', 'disappointing' and 'disheartening' don't give your communications much credence.
I also find it disdainful in you are clearly setting the scene for one employee group to be singled out and copping the blame for all of Cathay's woes. Not to mention your history of pitting the different employee groups against each other. Remember, it was you that decided on arbitrarily announcing a zero percent cost of living increase for 2013, when most other employee groups received theirs without concession and with minimal negotiation. It was you that offered, with arrogant demands and inappropriate additions, a below inflationary cost of living increase for 2014(and below other employee groups average for 2014). The future increases are also below inflationary predictions. It is you that has driven the manning levels to the level that we have today, where absolute reliance is made on our good will to keep the operation running and minimize cancelled flights. Specifically it is you that has led to the freighter operation being in chaos mode, losing the company millions of dollars in freight business. It is you that has deliberately dragged out negotiations to the point where we are today, and you brazenly try to blame the HKAOA? You should thank them. It is the HKAOA that has kept the pilot group from going in to contract compliance until now, allowing the show to go on for that much longer.
It is the pilots, among other groups, that have contributed to the profits we see today. We most definitely operate the aircraft in the best interests of both the company and the shareholders - efficiently and safely. And importantly, will continue to do so despite the possibility of contract compliance. It is in all our interests to do so. Remember, this contract compliance revolves around contactability outside required times i.e. in our rest time. It has NO effect on the way we operate the aircraft once at work. To say otherwise is not only untrue, but insults our intelligence, and that of the general population. You are aware, of course, that the company itself has always been in continual contract compliance.
I see no accountability in fuel hedging losses. I see no accountability in massive cargo fines. I see no accountability in lost opportunities. This is not management, nor is it leadership.
Yes - I do share you extreme frustration in not moving on to other matters. Some of which could and should have been signed off many years ago when promised by the company(housing, as an example). So much for good faith.
You accusing us of considering practices that will damage the company is scaremongering, absolutely untrue and a complete distortion of what the reality is. See above. Any action is not meant to damage the company. It is a reality check on where things would be save for our good will.
As for the AOA 'accepting' your open invitation, the doors have always been open. Again, you distort the reality and attempt to apportion blame to the HKAOA for the lack of progress. The positiveness(positivity?) of any outcome is squarely in your hands.
The contract compliance vote, despite your statement to the contrary, IS directly related to the pay deal. I never hear of any sustainability talk when it comes to cost of living increases, consistently above ours, for other employee groups.
There is no argument to the company's policy on harassment or intimidation. This is clearly supported by the HKAOA and all employees. It is up to you not to use it as an intimidation tool yourself with questionable acts, frivolous accusations or scaremongering.
The recent deal was recommended by the HKAOA with a gun to their head.
Yours sincerely
Just a day to day employee.
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One of the best posts I have ever read on this site.....
To the DFO.... We endured many years of management from a non-pilot and finally you had the opportunity to lead. As a pilot yourself and one that hopefully loves aviation, why do you hate your fellow crew and treat us with such disdain. I just don't understand how you could find yourself sitting next to men and woman that work hard to maintain the utmost professional cockpit, yet sign off on some of the most disrespectful and blatantly divisive emails.
If you read this... and I'm sure that if not then one one of your minions will, you have a fleeting thought before bed tonight that you are responsible for everything that happens in the coming months.
It's a sad, sad time to work for CX.
To the DFO.... We endured many years of management from a non-pilot and finally you had the opportunity to lead. As a pilot yourself and one that hopefully loves aviation, why do you hate your fellow crew and treat us with such disdain. I just don't understand how you could find yourself sitting next to men and woman that work hard to maintain the utmost professional cockpit, yet sign off on some of the most disrespectful and blatantly divisive emails.
If you read this... and I'm sure that if not then one one of your minions will, you have a fleeting thought before bed tonight that you are responsible for everything that happens in the coming months.
It's a sad, sad time to work for CX.
Please try to get that letter to the SCMP. You could try to leave out things like HKAOA and substitute 'Pilot's Union' but it pretty much encapsulates what most people are thinking. Get modern - get the media onside and lay the blame where it deserves to be. Most people are now so fed up that we just think 'bring it on' and I suspect if we show solidarity, they, like all bullies, will back down. After all, it doesn't matter how many degrees you have from Oxford or how many chums you have in the Hong Kong Club, if you don't have your pilots, you don't have a job and you can't run an Airline. If they decide to sack a few pilots and the rest don't fall in line, they're STUFFED. We must remember that. I also recall Tyler saying last time that they had wet lease crews arranged to cover uncrewed flights. Let the public learn of that tactic and see what they do!
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As a pilot yourself and one that hopefully loves aviation, why do you hate your fellow crew and treat us with such disdain.
There is, for instance, the kind who will happily turn his back on his ex-colleagues for the allure of a hefty bonus, the potential loss of which will drive him to publish the most blatantly, horrifyingly fallacious, unfounded and deceiving accusations one has ever had the consternation of reading.
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Outstanding post--hope it's shared beyond these walls.
I've regretted several investments I've made through my life, but have never regretted making an investment in quality individuals. Wish everyone could learn as much.
I've regretted several investments I've made through my life, but have never regretted making an investment in quality individuals. Wish everyone could learn as much.
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Thick skin?possibly. But the odd time you see him on the street, he seems keen to redefine his piloting personality and attempt to be one of the lads..much Like NR used to do..another joker you rarely see in our atmosphere.
Now we are showing solidarity, perhaps it's time to start publicly showing our resolve by the wearing of..blue and yellow ribbons??
Now we are showing solidarity, perhaps it's time to start publicly showing our resolve by the wearing of..blue and yellow ribbons??
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He doesn't believe anymore of it than we do.
He is simply propagating damning accusations to turn everyone else against us and try to absolve himself of any wrongdoing for getting us all into that mud hole.
He wants everyone else, but mostly the bonus providers, to believe we're the bloodthirsty bullies who won't listen to reason. He has started the bullsh#t war.
This stuff is straight from the 1957 coal mine manager handbook.
The interesting side effect here is that he's managing to p*ss off whoever wasn't already.
He is simply propagating damning accusations to turn everyone else against us and try to absolve himself of any wrongdoing for getting us all into that mud hole.
He wants everyone else, but mostly the bonus providers, to believe we're the bloodthirsty bullies who won't listen to reason. He has started the bullsh#t war.
This stuff is straight from the 1957 coal mine manager handbook.
The interesting side effect here is that he's managing to p*ss off whoever wasn't already.
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Now we are showing solidarity, perhaps it's time to start publicly showing our resolve by the wearing of..blue and yellow ribbons??
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From today weekly wrap up:
"This whole process really has taken far longer than anyone could ever have imagined. Let’s hope we can make some real headway over the coming days".
Is he for real?
Onset of Alzahimer peraphs?
"This whole process really has taken far longer than anyone could ever have imagined. Let’s hope we can make some real headway over the coming days".
Is he for real?
Onset of Alzahimer peraphs?