Cathay Pacific flight attendants plan August strike
From SCMP
Cathay Pacific's cabin crew union has vowed to press ahead with strike action in August if all three of its demands are not met - as talks ended yesterday with only one issue resolved.
"There is no room for concessions. We will not give up any of our demands," said Dora Lai Yuk-sim, chairwoman of the 6,300-member Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, which represents about 70 per cent of cabin crew at the airline.
The union has warned it will strike from August 18 to 31 if the disputes are not resolved.
The first outstanding demand concerns employees who have finished their initial three-year training contracts. Those who signed permanent contracts before April 2 got a pay increase from HK$144.70 per hour of flight to HK$176.80, but those who signed after April 16 would see their wages rise to only HK$159.30.
The union wants an hourly rate of HK$176.80 for all.
Secondly, it wants to reverse a cut in the lunch allowance for flight attendants in Melbourne, granting them A$60 (HK$372) per meal instead of A$35.
The airline did agree to the airline's other demand: the reinstatement of a legal protection clause Cathay deleted from its operational manual. The line states the airline will "cover all legal costs resulting from an incident occurring whilst on duty".
Speaking after a meeting at the office of the Labour Department, which is mediating, Lai said the airline had agreed to put the legal protection clause back in the manual.
A committee made up of representatives from both parties will ensure the clause is restored to the manual and the airline follows through for any staff member requiring legal support.
"We did not have time to talk about the discrepancy in hourly pay rates. We had some constructive exchanges on the [Melbourne] allowance, but there was no big progress," Lai said.
The airline previously said it would adjust the Melbourne allowance to A$55.
The union's vice-chairman, Julian Yau Chi-hung, said the airline did not offer a new figure yesterday.
Cathay's director of corporate affairs, James Tong, described the meeting as "constructive".
"I don't feel that we have not made a concession, otherwise both sides would not have had such a happy discussion today," Tong said. He added that industrial action did no one any good and he hoped the differences could be settled soon.
Tong did not clarify whether there was room for further concession regarding the food allowance and the hourly pay rate.
Downstairs at the Wan Chai Revenue Tower, where the talks took place, about 150 Cathay flight attendants gathered yesterday to show the union their support.
"If we do not come out and show our unity this time, I feel that we will be exploited further," said a flight attendant who joined the airline about a year ago.
An emotional scene erupted as union members walked out of their meeting room to greet their supporters downstairs.
"I am proud of all of you. I am here to promise you we will not give up," union chairwoman Lai said, as the members responded with a big round of applause.
Talks will resume today.
"There is no room for concessions. We will not give up any of our demands," said Dora Lai Yuk-sim, chairwoman of the 6,300-member Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, which represents about 70 per cent of cabin crew at the airline.
The union has warned it will strike from August 18 to 31 if the disputes are not resolved.
The first outstanding demand concerns employees who have finished their initial three-year training contracts. Those who signed permanent contracts before April 2 got a pay increase from HK$144.70 per hour of flight to HK$176.80, but those who signed after April 16 would see their wages rise to only HK$159.30.
The union wants an hourly rate of HK$176.80 for all.
Secondly, it wants to reverse a cut in the lunch allowance for flight attendants in Melbourne, granting them A$60 (HK$372) per meal instead of A$35.
The airline did agree to the airline's other demand: the reinstatement of a legal protection clause Cathay deleted from its operational manual. The line states the airline will "cover all legal costs resulting from an incident occurring whilst on duty".
Speaking after a meeting at the office of the Labour Department, which is mediating, Lai said the airline had agreed to put the legal protection clause back in the manual.
A committee made up of representatives from both parties will ensure the clause is restored to the manual and the airline follows through for any staff member requiring legal support.
"We did not have time to talk about the discrepancy in hourly pay rates. We had some constructive exchanges on the [Melbourne] allowance, but there was no big progress," Lai said.
The airline previously said it would adjust the Melbourne allowance to A$55.
The union's vice-chairman, Julian Yau Chi-hung, said the airline did not offer a new figure yesterday.
Cathay's director of corporate affairs, James Tong, described the meeting as "constructive".
"I don't feel that we have not made a concession, otherwise both sides would not have had such a happy discussion today," Tong said. He added that industrial action did no one any good and he hoped the differences could be settled soon.
Tong did not clarify whether there was room for further concession regarding the food allowance and the hourly pay rate.
Downstairs at the Wan Chai Revenue Tower, where the talks took place, about 150 Cathay flight attendants gathered yesterday to show the union their support.
"If we do not come out and show our unity this time, I feel that we will be exploited further," said a flight attendant who joined the airline about a year ago.
An emotional scene erupted as union members walked out of their meeting room to greet their supporters downstairs.
"I am proud of all of you. I am here to promise you we will not give up," union chairwoman Lai said, as the members responded with a big round of applause.
Talks will resume today.
From SCMP
Cathay Pacific strike averted as cabin crew union agrees last minute deal.
Stormy day of negotiations ends with both sides signing a memorandum, but union warns it will take action if the final agreement falls short.
Cathay Pacific's passengers look set to be spared a summer of flight misery after the airline's cabin crew union called off an August strike action in its dispute over pay and benefits.
After a second day of negotiations, both sides settled their differences and, together with Labour Department representatives, signed a memorandum.
Such an outcome seemed unlikely at one point last night as representatives of the Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union stormed out of the meeting room in protest at the airline's "lack of sincerity".
But two hours later they managed to sign the memorandum.
"We have decided to call off all of our preparation for the strike action for now," said Dora Lai Yuk-sim, chairwoman of the 6,300-member union, which represents 70 per cent of the airline's flight attendants.
"I hope that we will be able to improve our relationship from now on."
The memorandum sets out a framework of what both sides have agreed on. On Monday they will sign an agreement that has legal implications. But the union warned that if the agreement deviated from what both sides had settled on, it would press ahead with an August strike.
The union's fight centred on three issues, with its first demand concerning employees who had finished their initial three-year training contracts.
Those who signed permanent contracts before April 2 were awarded a pay increase from HK$144.70 per hour of flight time to HK$176.80. But those who signed after April 16 would see their hourly wages rise to only HK$159.30.
The union was seeking an hourly rate of HK$176.80 for all.
Secondly, it wanted to reverse a cut in the lunch allowance for flight attendants in Melbourne, granting them A$60 (HK$372) per meal instead of A$35.
Thirdly, it wanted the airline to reinstate a legal protection clause in its operational manual that it had earlier deleted. The line states that the airline will "cover all legal costs resulting from an incident occurring whilst on duty".
The airline had satisfied the union on all three demands and also promised it would inform the union if it made any changes to the allowance in future.
The signing of the memorandum took place just two hours after angry unionists stormed out of the meeting room, accusing the airline of "fooling" them.
They said the airline's position all along was that the union would be signing a memorandum. But just as the union was about to put pen to paper on the document, they were told it was an agreement that they would be signing.
The union said it was outraged by this because an agreement has legal implications that needed to be studied carefully before signing.
Two hours later, both sides settled their dispute.
The airline's director of corporate affairs, James Tong, did not explain clearly why the memorandum would suddenly become an agreement.
"The most important thing is that we all eventually reached a consensus on all the items," he said.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Cathay strike off after cabin crew agree deal.
Stormy day of negotiations ends with both sides signing a memorandum, but union warns it will take action if the final agreement falls short.
Cathay Pacific's passengers look set to be spared a summer of flight misery after the airline's cabin crew union called off an August strike action in its dispute over pay and benefits.
After a second day of negotiations, both sides settled their differences and, together with Labour Department representatives, signed a memorandum.
Such an outcome seemed unlikely at one point last night as representatives of the Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union stormed out of the meeting room in protest at the airline's "lack of sincerity".
But two hours later they managed to sign the memorandum.
"We have decided to call off all of our preparation for the strike action for now," said Dora Lai Yuk-sim, chairwoman of the 6,300-member union, which represents 70 per cent of the airline's flight attendants.
"I hope that we will be able to improve our relationship from now on."
The memorandum sets out a framework of what both sides have agreed on. On Monday they will sign an agreement that has legal implications. But the union warned that if the agreement deviated from what both sides had settled on, it would press ahead with an August strike.
The union's fight centred on three issues, with its first demand concerning employees who had finished their initial three-year training contracts.
Those who signed permanent contracts before April 2 were awarded a pay increase from HK$144.70 per hour of flight time to HK$176.80. But those who signed after April 16 would see their hourly wages rise to only HK$159.30.
The union was seeking an hourly rate of HK$176.80 for all.
Secondly, it wanted to reverse a cut in the lunch allowance for flight attendants in Melbourne, granting them A$60 (HK$372) per meal instead of A$35.
Thirdly, it wanted the airline to reinstate a legal protection clause in its operational manual that it had earlier deleted. The line states that the airline will "cover all legal costs resulting from an incident occurring whilst on duty".
The airline had satisfied the union on all three demands and also promised it would inform the union if it made any changes to the allowance in future.
The signing of the memorandum took place just two hours after angry unionists stormed out of the meeting room, accusing the airline of "fooling" them.
They said the airline's position all along was that the union would be signing a memorandum. But just as the union was about to put pen to paper on the document, they were told it was an agreement that they would be signing.
The union said it was outraged by this because an agreement has legal implications that needed to be studied carefully before signing.
Two hours later, both sides settled their dispute.
The airline's director of corporate affairs, James Tong, did not explain clearly why the memorandum would suddenly become an agreement.
"The most important thing is that we all eventually reached a consensus on all the items," he said.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Cathay strike off after cabin crew agree deal.
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Excellent find. Underscores how pathetic CX have become. The piggly niggly cutting of services left and right for the last 10 years has eviscerated the quality of service. All they have to do is fire the dimwits who keep losing hundreds of millions on bad fuel hedges. Oh wait, those are all MBAs riding heard over computer algorithms. It would be ungentlemanly for managers to fire from their own ranks. My bad.
Excellent find. Underscores how pathetic CX have become. The piggly niggly cutting of services left and right for the last 10 years has eviscerated the quality of service. All they have to do is fire the dimwits who keep losing hundreds of millions on bad fuel hedges. Oh wait, those are all MBAs riding heard over computer algorithms. It would be ungentlemanly for managers to fire from their own ranks. My bad.
I think the big story here should be that the picketing cabin crew feel the need to wear masks.
From SCMP
Despite framework agreement, cabin crew may yet strike Cathay in August
Framework agreement with cabin crew, which was to be formalised tomorrow, now in doubt as union blasts airline's 'bankrupt credibility'
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 31 May, 2015, 5:39am
UPDATED : Sunday, 31 May, 2015, 5:39am
The threat of a summer strike by Cathay Pacific's cabin crew has returned, two days after the company and the union appeared to have settled their disputes on pay and benefits and signed a memorandum setting out the framework for an agreement.
"The company's credibility has gone bankrupt," said Dora Lai Yuk-sim, chairwoman of the 6,300-member Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, which represents 70 per cent of the airline's cabin crew.
"I cannot rule out the possibility of resuming our preparation for a strike, because the company has no credibility. How can we still trust them?"
On Thursday night, the union and the airline resolved their dispute on three issues and, together with Labour Department representatives, signed a memorandum. The union announced then that it had called off its preparations for strike action in August. The memorandum sets out the framework of what both sides agreed after two days of negotiations. The union and the airline were scheduled to sign a formal agreement tomorrow.
On Friday, the airline sent the union a copy of the formal agreement through the Labour Department.
However, Lai said: "It is the same as the memorandum. Many details were missing. An agreement is supposed to contain a lot more details than a memorandum."
But the airline stressed last night that it remained "committed to the items" agreed with the union in last week's talks.
A spokesman for the airline said it had been informed by the Labour Department that the union wanted to incorporate more information into the agreement and had since revised the document.
While the latest problem may be just a misunderstanding, the union said last night that it had not received a copy of a revised agreement and therefore could not rule out resuming its strike preparations. The dispute centres on three issues. In one, the union wanted to reverse a cut in the lunch allowance for flight attendants in Melbourne.
Crew were originally getting A$60 (HK$372) per meal but this had been reduced to A$35. The airline has agreed to reverse the cut and compensate flight attendants who were only paid the A$35 rate in past months.
Lai said the airline had satisfied the union's three demands last week, but some additional details agreed by both sides in the talks were missing.
For example, the airline said it would conduct an audit in July to ensure overseas stay allowances were in line with the framework that both sides agreed.
The review is also aimed at making sure flight attendants who received the A$35 Melbourne allowance have really been compensated.
In another example, the airline said it would "talk to" and "resolve with" the union about any changes to its output allowances in the future. Lai said the agreement only said it would inform and discuss the matter with the union.
"It means that the changes will not need to be mutually agreed on," she said.
Lai made it clear she would not sign the formal deal tomorrow if the items agreed in the framework are not included.
A Cathay spokesman said last night that the airline "reiterates its commitment to the items agreed with" the union in last week's meetings.
The airline sent a proposed agreement to the union based on the memorandum that both sides signed, an airline spokesman said. Subsequently, the Labour Department told the airline the union wanted to incorporate more information into the agreement.
"We agreed and revised the proposed agreement," he said, adding that the agreement had been sent to the department.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Cathay may still be hit by strike
Framework agreement with cabin crew, which was to be formalised tomorrow, now in doubt as union blasts airline's 'bankrupt credibility'
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 31 May, 2015, 5:39am
UPDATED : Sunday, 31 May, 2015, 5:39am
The threat of a summer strike by Cathay Pacific's cabin crew has returned, two days after the company and the union appeared to have settled their disputes on pay and benefits and signed a memorandum setting out the framework for an agreement.
"The company's credibility has gone bankrupt," said Dora Lai Yuk-sim, chairwoman of the 6,300-member Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, which represents 70 per cent of the airline's cabin crew.
"I cannot rule out the possibility of resuming our preparation for a strike, because the company has no credibility. How can we still trust them?"
On Thursday night, the union and the airline resolved their dispute on three issues and, together with Labour Department representatives, signed a memorandum. The union announced then that it had called off its preparations for strike action in August. The memorandum sets out the framework of what both sides agreed after two days of negotiations. The union and the airline were scheduled to sign a formal agreement tomorrow.
On Friday, the airline sent the union a copy of the formal agreement through the Labour Department.
However, Lai said: "It is the same as the memorandum. Many details were missing. An agreement is supposed to contain a lot more details than a memorandum."
But the airline stressed last night that it remained "committed to the items" agreed with the union in last week's talks.
A spokesman for the airline said it had been informed by the Labour Department that the union wanted to incorporate more information into the agreement and had since revised the document.
While the latest problem may be just a misunderstanding, the union said last night that it had not received a copy of a revised agreement and therefore could not rule out resuming its strike preparations. The dispute centres on three issues. In one, the union wanted to reverse a cut in the lunch allowance for flight attendants in Melbourne.
Crew were originally getting A$60 (HK$372) per meal but this had been reduced to A$35. The airline has agreed to reverse the cut and compensate flight attendants who were only paid the A$35 rate in past months.
Lai said the airline had satisfied the union's three demands last week, but some additional details agreed by both sides in the talks were missing.
For example, the airline said it would conduct an audit in July to ensure overseas stay allowances were in line with the framework that both sides agreed.
The review is also aimed at making sure flight attendants who received the A$35 Melbourne allowance have really been compensated.
In another example, the airline said it would "talk to" and "resolve with" the union about any changes to its output allowances in the future. Lai said the agreement only said it would inform and discuss the matter with the union.
"It means that the changes will not need to be mutually agreed on," she said.
Lai made it clear she would not sign the formal deal tomorrow if the items agreed in the framework are not included.
A Cathay spokesman said last night that the airline "reiterates its commitment to the items agreed with" the union in last week's meetings.
The airline sent a proposed agreement to the union based on the memorandum that both sides signed, an airline spokesman said. Subsequently, the Labour Department told the airline the union wanted to incorporate more information into the agreement.
"We agreed and revised the proposed agreement," he said, adding that the agreement had been sent to the department.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Cathay may still be hit by strike
