It started in ‘93-’94 when CX introduced B Scales and started a continued erosion of Conditions of Service. The A Scale Pilots were threatened with a contract (sign or you will never get a pay raise or a basing). Very well maneuvered by CX and most signed the new deal without much of a fight. Most assumed B Scales did not affect them and they were not concerned. Approximately 50-60 stood firm and did not sign the new deal. This batch ended up getting the best roster, basings and a low threshold flying hours before overtime. That day, the Champagne corks were flying at Swire House. I am all right Jack syndrome began.
In ‘96 they started ASL to fly the freighters. The Freighters were even lower pay and conditions. By the time 2000 rolled around they realized it was not working (it provided no flexibility and low productivity). The ASL pilots were allowed a one-time offer to join the CX seniority list, which most did, but the old farts stayed with ASL because of age 60. Subsequently some have quit the AOA after joining the CX list. All 744 pilots now volunteer to fly the freighter aircraft because CX needs the flexibility. Also if you don’t you will be labeled a bad apple.
In 1999, CX threaten, again, all A Scale pilots with “sign a new contract or be fired”. The AOA conceived this as a threat and urged all A Scale pilots not to fly if they were stressed. All of the Captains at that time were A Scale. Most Captains kept flying. It was presented again as a threat to all pilots’ contract and everybody was asked not to fly stressed. The F/O’s got involved, as some Captains,and did not fly stressed. It went on for 2 weeks and at the height, there were 75 flights cancelled out of 129. IMHO, in hindsight, the biggest mistake was the F/O’s joining their fight. See later. Captains continued to fly (there were only a few A Scale F/O’s at that time, some flew, some didn’t). In the end the A Scales signed the new agreement (as in ‘94). The Based Pilots took the biggest hit (27% pay decrease) but the HK A Scalers got their PFund topped up (which was very good IMHO). Most Based Pilots returned to HK, which cost CX a huge amount (CX didn’t expect the Pilots to return to HK). Discussions on basing policy are up and coming and the option to return will be gone or extended. IMHO if you are not allowed to return to HK, they will cut pay on basing even deeper.
In 2000-2001 the AOA wanted a revised rostering agreement, negotiated pay, and benefits. Nothing was negotiated for the past 10 years. There were talks and nothing materialized (some will say there was an offer). There was no formal offer by CX to the AOA. Talks broke down. During that time it was work to rule.
The then AOA stated they may take industrial action. After the ‘99 dispute this worried the company. The now DFO implied 4 months before the talks broke down “if you will take industrial action, we will fire 20-30 Pilots and the rest will fall in line”. The AOA was a bit worried about this and figured it should not go stressed this time. CX asked the AOA what kind of action they were going to take and of course the AOA said “No Comment”. CX wanted to know badly what the Pilots were going to do. If it were another ‘99, CX will have to obtain aircraft for the flying. The last week of June (2001) CX had to make a decision on getting 10-11 aircraft. In the end they hired those aircraft secretly from Air China.
On June 30, the AOA announced that it would take limited industrial action by the way of working to rule. Basically status quo.
This really embarrassed Cathay Pacific. The Pilots did not go sick and CX had 10-11 aircraft from Air China that had to be paid for.
This was a huge embarrassment for the CX CEO, as a Pilot hoodwinked him. This made him furious. What shall we do, was the question. This is the same CEO that fired a pilot for throwing peanuts in the air at the company bar. Some landed by the CEO’s foot.
They paid for10-11 aircraft from Air China so they used them to fly some routes and had huge ads in the SCMP how all the pilots are calling in sick. We were actually put on reserve/standby for 2-3 weeks until the Air China aircraft returned. It was a colossal loss of face.
The DFO and the deputy DFO (now DFO) arranged a Star Chamber meeting of all the managers. We need to fire about 50 pilots. The managers were asked if they ever had exchange with pilots that they didn’t like or who they considered a bad apple (a bad apple is open for interpretation, speaking up put you in that category). One was stood down by Crew Control and then put down as a missed duty, another confronted Crew Control about Flight Time Limitations, and both are 49ers. CX had about 150 on the list but could not terminate that many without affecting the schedule, so the lucky 49ers were created. This happened July 9th, 2001. They did not get a chance to defend themselves. They were fired by phone, fax, and Express courier (DHL).
The AOA developed a Maximum Safety Strategy. It was a work to rule. Not all pilots did this and the ones that did, were called into the office to explain themselves. Some Captains wrote up F/O’s for trying to slow things down (not good for Command prospects) One Captain was demoted. CX had for 5-10 extra people to dispatch the aircraft. Ground staff were in the cockpit watching the pre-flight, others went with the pilot on walk arounds. The ground staff started to blame all delays on the flight crew as they could get away with it. Some pilots saved themselves from demotion by taking good notes and presented them to the interrogator when called in. Only then it was realized that some ports were really out to screw the pilots and were outright lying.
Then 911 happened and we have been trying to fight this in the courts for the last 4 years. Our dues went up to 5% at one point and have been at 3% over the last couple of years. When the dues went up, most of the pilots contract that was threatened in ‘99 subsequently quit the AOA and numbers have dropped by 400. Thank you for helping. New joiners are reluctant to join because of high dues and don’t want to get fired.
The AOA put on a recruitment ban (which was endorsed by IFALPA) and there are a number of people who have broken the ban. It was subsequently lifted.
The current AOA/Membership have decided to stop funding the court cases, which forced some to accept an interview or 10 months. The AOA Committee had to take two votes to unleash the 49ers. The first didn't make it by a few votes (need 66% to carry the motion). The motion was reworded and a second vote cast. Bring in the axe.
The court cases were to conclude early next year and to this point the 49ers had all judgments/costs awarded in their favor. The AOA Committee bulldozed this motion through for some reason. The committee painted a doomsday scenario and promoted it as the likely case. This doomsday scenario had to be cited but it is unlikely.
The returning 49ers will have to go through 3 interviews with the company (independent shrink present accompanied by the company doctor) and the DFO will decide who will come back (there is a panel but no one, who is career oriented, will speak up against the DFO). The panel may consist of managers who were involved in the Star Chamber meetings. The AOA president has hinted and called some 49ers to say they will not have a problem with the interview and discouraged some wanting to return to Hong Kong.
This offer is for an interview only.
Some are trying to start another union (the CPU-Cathay Pilots Union, Cathay meaning China) and acquire enough members to fund the legals for the 49ers that did not accept the offer. I believe people are reluctant to join the CPU as they will be considered bad apples (see above), but I am sure that some will contribute a percentage of their salary to keep the legals going.
As for the company’s position, it was a pain, both industrially and monetary, I don’t think CX cares if anyone is happy (opinion) as long as the job gets done. They don’t like it, that is why they want this to go away and the committee/members gave it away (again opinion). They always inquire about the 49ers at fleet forums (pilot-manager meeting). Again, if you speak up.
The company asks all pilots to move forward, but pilots are still Cat B’d (not yet suitable for command) because of political grounds of the events of the last 7-10 years. Obviously a one-way street.
IMHO they will continue to erode the contract because they can.
Looking forward to it VR.
Last edited by Turbo Beaver; 26th May 2005 at 15:14.