Blunderbus and others must think Prune readers are wet behind the ears if he expects them to believe that this dispute is only about rostering. You will have read the SCMP, but Pruners may not have done. For their edification I copy the following:-
Wednesday, October 17, 2001
Cathay accuses pilots' union of playing word games
VICTORIA BUTTON
Cathay Pacific has claimed its pilots' union refused the option of a deal on rostering, while publicly saying the issue was of top importance.
Director of flight operations Ken Barley cited the incident in a letter sent on October 12, formally refusing a union offer of a return to negotiations.
He wrote that in June at the Labour Department, the union had indicated it could accept a package that resolved pay and benefits, but did not deal with rostering.
But Mr Barley said in the letter the union would not accept the reverse - a package which resolved rostering issues but did not cover pay and benefits.
"In public, the HKAOA [Aircrew Officers' Association] claim that the most important issue to resolve is roster practices," he said. Mr Barley accused the union of word games and public relations gamesmanship as it gave contradictory messages to the company and the public - similar to accusations made by the union against the company.
Pilots would have to convince the company of their sincerity if they wanted another agreement through formal talks, Mr Barley said.
"Dropping your industrial action and stating unambiguously that you have no pre-conditions either to talks or the outcome of any talks would be steps in the right direction," he continued.
"Instead, the HKAOA is telling its members to step up the action. In these circumstances, no purpose would be served by any further meetings."
The general secretary of the Aircrew Officers' Association, John Findlay, said the union would give the letter serious consideration and reply to Mr Barley.
Mr Barley said the union's unconditional offer to return to negotiations was disingenuous when, in other forums, the group had insisted on an outcome from any talks - the reinstatement of more than 50 pilots sacked en masse during an ongoing industrial dispute.
The sacked pilots were told by the company that their terminations were not as a result of any particular offence, but publicly, Cathay has said it had lost confidence in the pilots after a careful review.
Pilots have taken legal action over the sackings in Hong Kong and overseas, including a United States suit for more than $780 million.
Cathay's director of corporate development, Tony Tyler, said the company could not afford to pay pilots more. He claimed a "large" number of pilots were coming to realise the situation and "think for themselves".
You had better tell Nigel what it is you want.