Cathay still faces possible legal action from 19 sacked pilots
Nineteen of the 51 pilots that have been fighting Cathay Pacific Airways for nearly four years over wrongful dismissal have decided to reject the airline’s latest offer and may continue to pursue legal action.
The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) says 32 of the 51 sacked pilots accepted the offer a few days ago after the union decided it would no longer fund the pilots’ legal action against Cathay.
The HKAOA withdrew financial support for the pilots’ legal case after its membership of around 950 voted on 13 April with a 74% majority in favour of accepting Cathay’s latest offer to resolve the long-running dispute, HKAOA general secretary John Findlay says from Hong Kong.
The dispute between the pilots and Cathay started in July 2001 when the airline sacked 52 pilots who were pushing for improvements in wages and conditions.
It later reinstated one of the 52 but since then the remaining 51 had all continued to fight Cathay through the courts with financial support provided by HKAOA.
Cathay, in its latest offer, has agreed to let the 51-sacked pilots apply for positions as first officers on Cathay’s cargo aircraft or get a 10-month salary cash payout.
“They will start as first officers but it is quite likely that if they were already captains then they could get command of the freighter fairly quickly,” says Findlay, adding that after three years the pilots will be eligible to transfer to Cathay’s passenger fleet.
Of the 51 sacked pilots, 21 have chosen job interviews to be held in late June, 11 have opted for the cash pay-out and “19 have not accepted the offer and are [free to] pursue legal action against Cathay”, says Findlay. But he says the union will no longer be financing the pilots’ lawsuit against Cathay.
Findlay says those that fail to get a job as result of the interview or do get a job but then leave within 12-months are still eligible for the cash pay-out.
The cash-payout is 10-months salary and this amount may be paid as early as this week depending on whether the pilots had submitted their claims forms early, he adds.
A Cathay spokeswoman in Hong Kong confirms the two sides have reached an agreement whereby the union will stop funding the legal action against the airline.
She also confirms that 21 of the sacked pilots have opted for job interviews as first officers of Cathay freighters, 11 have selected the 10-month salary pay-out and 19 have rejected the offer.
“It will be up to the [19] individuals to find other sources of funding and do it [take legal action against Cathay] themselves,” explains the Cathay spokeswoman.
“It is hard for me to comment further. It is really up to the individuals to decide what their next move will be,” she adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news