The latest from the DFO

[Trafalgar]

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your explanation of your recent introduction of COS18, an explanation that attempts to defend the indefensible. Let’s start with your first paragraph; You state the company has been “transparent when asked about a new COS”. Really? I don’t recall that being discussed at my recent fleet forum, or actually any mention of a document being prepared by the company for what must have been many, many months, in spite of the AOA honourably dedicating many hours of “Good Faith Bargaining” to reach a fair and reasonable agreement. So, let’s drop talk of being “transparent”. This is nothing more than an ambush. We understand that, and it says everything about the character of this management.You speak of productivity. Well, we all know one pilot that won’t be contributing to that “productivity”. Thanks for playing.

You talk about the “changing economic environment”. It’s quite fascinating that most of the worlds major airlines, with much higher cost basis, are rolling around in record profits AND increasing their pilot pay and benefits. That is nearly all the worlds major airlines, other than CX. I suppose their profits are accidental, and have got nothing to do with their more enlightened managements I suppose?

You state your “determination to bring negotiations to a close”. Let’s examine that statement. What you really mean is that you have played along with the AOA for the requisite time, ignored all the valid issues of dispute they have raised and now are basically saying, “ we have a determination to bring negotiations to a close”. In other words, “s*rew you”. Why don’t we use a bit of intellectual honesty just for once, and admit that there never were any real “negotiations”. CX has no intention of addressing the serious concerns and doubts of their present aircrew. You and your management overlords will simply pretend that you can always source ever cheaper pilots, and they will put up with appalling work and benefit conditions. You care nothing for the present crop of pilots, and have decided to replace us with inexperienced, younger and somewhat naive aircrew from some of the more interesting parts of the world. Well, we’ll see how that works out won’t we?

You mention that a conclusion to negotiations is to “bring certainty and resolution which is “essential and long overdue”. Really? What you mean is that you can’t be bothered to continue the charade anymore and you are convinced that an airline can subsist on cadets and a 3-4 year turnover of pilots (just like your newly selected benchmark airlines). You might as well change the name of our airline, as the airline called Cathay Pacific doesn’t really exist anymore (and looking at the recently painted aircraft with new creative spelling of the name, you are already on that!) Instead, it is really Cheap Pilots that are more important, and would look more appropriate painted on the side of the aircraft.

“We are confident, based on advice we have received (?) that the new COS will ensure we remain a career airline”. Wow. Why don’t you say, “we’ve overpaid a bunch of self-serving consultancy firms and they are giving us the answers they knew we wanted”? That is the only way that statement could make any sense. Why would you need “advice”? Surely all those employee surveys that consistently told you that we are the most dysfunctional airline of the modern age should have given you ALL the answers you needed. I realize that you kept trying to ask the same questions over and over in the different surveys, but perhaps the consistent answers you received might have represented the REAL advice you should have taken. Of course, like everything else to do with this airline, you only hear your own deluded voices.

Career airline? Give us a break. It’s a joke; a sick one and you know it.You talk about other airlines around the world “reducing salaries” and “cancelling pensions”. Hmmm, nearly everything I read lately talks about most airlines doing the exact opposite. Most are rapidly raising pay and benefits, even going as far as to pay significant signing bonuses. You and your Swire masters are seemingly living in a different universe to the rest of the airline industry (at least the industry that believes in stability and shared prosperity with its employees). Your new COS is a complete travesty, and it is a disgrace that you would pretend otherwise. I’m glad you personally are “excited” about CX’s future, but then you would be, as you’ve managed to soak every benefit from her over your career, and now feel your successors should be treated like slaves and dogs.

As far as your closing comments attempting to denigrate the AOA, it says all we need to know about your ability to deal with integrity and honesty. I am not sure who you wrote that for, but I can certainly tell you it wasn’t for the 3500+ pilots of this airline, who well know exactly who is to blame for the current disaster that is CX.

Sleep well Chris.