More from the South China Morning Post:
Saturday, June 30, 2001
Cathay turns screw on pilots
Airline rejects union's offer to delay start of industrial action as 'empty
PR gesture'
JO BOWMAN
Cathay Pacific turned up the heat on its pilots yesterday, refusing to restart talks on pay and conditions, and saying the union could take or leave the package of improvements it had offered.
The airline dismissed as an "empty
PR gesture" the pilots' move to put off any industrial action until at least Tuesday.
The union had planned to launch the action tomorrow and said the postponement showed its sincerity in wanting to negotiate a settlement without affecting passengers.
Cathay gave the pilots until midnight tonight to accept its offer and said it would be withdrawn at that time if there was no agreement.
Aircrew Officers' Association general secretary John Findlay said yesterday morning that members considered industrial action a last resort and urged Cathay to return to the negotiating table.
"We are now giving extra time for the talks to continue, right up to midnight on July 2. We will not be taking any action and the holiday plans of Hong Kong people this weekend will not be disrupted," he said.
"We call on Cathay Pacific to make a similar gesture. Let them show their sincerity . . . and get back to the negotiating table. We do not want conflict."
The union had planned to distribute its strategy for industrial action yesterday but said it would instead put the document out on Tuesday. The industrial action is widely expected to cause flight delays and cancellations almost immediately...
http://news.scmp.com/ZZZ9VWPXJOC.html