Massive Cathay Strike
Cathay Pacific pilots are expected to vote on massive strike action this month. Union meetings are scheduled for mid May at which time pilots will decide upon action to be taken.
The main issues are rostering practices and the continual attacks on working conditions. Pilots complain that rosters are constantly changing with some crew never flying a single rostered trip in a month. This results in disruptions at work and home leading to increased stress and illness. One Cathay pilot recently said, 'We just don't know what to expect when we arrive at work. You plan to return home that night and are suddenly told you won't return for five days. Imagine the effect this has on your family.'
Approximately 14000 roster changes occured in December alone. That's 10 roster changes per pilot per month. The company are currently investigating the problem. One solution offered is to pay pilots an hourly rate to encourage them to fly overtime. Junior pilots have been offered as little as HKD30/hr(USD3.85/hr) in extra pay. The company claims this will compensate pilots for the pay cuts they have received while encouraging overtime. Most pilots asked consider the offer insulting. 'It would'nt cover a return bus ticket to the airport,' a pilot said.'They steal from you with one hand and offer it back with the other.'
Rostering negotiations with the company broke down again on the 30th of April, the cutoff date for an agreement to be reached. Unless the Labour Department intervenes or an 11th hour agreement can be brokered it is unlikely a strike in June can be avoided.
Most pilots expect action in the form of a sick-out rather than a complete strike. Labour laws in Hong Kong allow the company to sack any pilots undertaking strike action which means a sick-out is their only viable option. 'Cathay would love the pilots to go on strike because they could fire us all and replace us with cheaper crew from Malaysia, the Philipines and China. They threatened this 18 months ago when they cut our pay,' a pilot said. 'Management hate having to pay higher salaries to British, Australian and Canadian pilots when pilots from so called third world countries could be payed much less.'
Management are currently conducting interviews in Malaysia for crew. They are reported to be testing the suitability of pilots from countries that would allow them to pay much lower salaries. Pilots argue that Cathay passengers expect a high level of safety equivalent to that found in the US, Britain and Australia. This is why Cathay pilots receive better pay than their mainland China counterparts and Cathay has the safety record to prove it.
Unless rostering negotiations can be solved and the management stop intimidating pilots with tactics such as cheaper crew, absence management programs another pay cut next month it is unlikely that a major shutdown of the airline can be averted.