Below is a copy of a the information, which you can find
here
The Cathay Pacific Recruitment Ban
Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) Recruitment Ban that has been enacted on recruitment into Cathay Pacific, and its subsidiaries VETA and USAB. Details of the ban are shown below. Please remember that joining Cathay while this ban is in place will not only affect your career with Cathay but also your ability to secure employment in other IFALPA affiliated airlines when you leave Cathay.
A New Career in New Surroundings
Joining a company like Cathay is an important step for you and your family. Every member of the HKAOA (Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association) has taken this step and we understand many of the factors you may now be weighing up in deciding whether to join Cathay. We understand that it is a difficult decision, moving half way around the world to start a new career and what is bound to be a new sort of life in Hong Kong. As a direct entry Second Officer you will be based in Hong Kong from your date of joining. As a direct entry Freighter First Officer, you will be faced with the same prospect of a move to Hong Kong at some stage very early on in your career. New friends, new schools, new surroundings - change all round. Try as we do, as expatriates, to escape into our own space in Hong Kong, it is not always possible to do so. Hong Kong is a small place and the expatriate community is close knit.
Is a move to Cathay one that is likely to lead to happiness for you and your family? Is this a step you should sensibly take now? Are there alternatives? Only you can really judge. But we hope that you will make these judgments carefully and that your decision will be an informed one.
Intimidation of Replacement Workers
First of all, you should be assured that the HKAOA does not condone the intimidation of any employee. However, if you do decide to join, you need to appreciate that in the eyes of most Cathay Pacific employees, you will be taking the job of a pilot that was unfairly sacked; even the best efforts of the company and the HKAOA may not be able to prevent incidents of this nature. Indeed, Cathay Pacific’s Chief Executive recently wrote to all crewmembers on this subject. This is the first time he has communicated with us since 1999, and is an indication as to the seriousness of this problem.
Unfortunately, the very nature of our job means that close cooperation in the form of Crew Resource Management (CRM) is required to perform our job. With the best will in the world and any number of rules written by the company, it is going to be difficult to operate effectively with someone who views you as a ‘replacement worker’. Would you be happy to operate in this sort of environment? Never mind the tension that might exist outside of the operation. Most trips involve social time together with other crew members, even if it is conversation in the cruise or a meal together on a layover. For many people this aspect of the job is necessary relief from the long duty hours and separation from family that define a flying career with Cathay.
In the past, most pilots joining Cathay have done so after much research and many conversations with friends already in the airline. This has helped people make good decisions for themselves. Most people knew that they were going to fit in to the Cathay Pilot group. Given the requirement to move half way across the globe for a job, this was useful! How easy is it going to be to fit in now?
Putting the ban aside for a moment...
Regardless of the IFALPA ban, you should ask yourself if you want to join a company that has such a dreadful track record of employee relations. Amongst many other issues, you should know that:
- Those sacked were given no reasons for their dismissal. No effort was made to establish the good conduct or otherwise of those affected. This despite an agreed Disciplinary and Grievance Process. It is probable that this action would have been illegal in your home country.
- No demographic was safe from the recent terminations; victims ranged from the most junior first officer to senior check captains and even former managers
- There are many outstanding flight safety issues that remain unresolved, due to management’s refusal to talk to the HKAOA.
- Management is attempting to terminate the most basic agreements on housing, medical, education and basings. These are vitally important aspects of our members’ conditions of service, which affect all pilots working for Cathay, whether based in their home country or based in Hong Kong. Fundamental to any decision whether or not to join Cathay, management now believe that these items are no longer contractual and can be varied at their sole discretion.
Click here for further information on the history of the current dispute.
There is little doubt that Cathay can progress towards a good future when the current dispute is amicably resolved. However, while the contribution of our members is little recognised and less and less rewarded, we urge you to consider carefully your decision to join Cathay with the IFALPA Recruitment Ban in force.
For more information, please contact us at the addresses and numbers below. Better still, call a friend at Cathay. You can also download a special report on our sacked colleagues entitled
The 49ers in Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf).
Please be fully informed before making this important decision.
The HKAOA is doing all it can to resolve this difficult issue as quickly as possible. Please register with us at the email address below and we will advise you when the IFALPA Recruitment Ban is lifted. Once the Ban is lifted, you will be welcomed as a colleague and we can, together, look forward to a brighter future.
HKAOA Contact Information
HKAOA
5/F, Daily House
Haiphong Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
HONG KONG
Fax: +852 2736 0903
[email protected]
IFALPA Recruitment Ban
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) has enacted a ban on recruitment into Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Veta Ltd. and USAB Ltd. on behalf of the member pilots of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA).
The Recruitment Ban comes into effect for any pilot who accepts employment commencing on or after 9th October 2001. The recruitment ban has been enacted in response to Cathay Pacific management’s firing 51 Union pilots in July 2001. These pilots were terminated for no reason and they were denied the ability to appeal the decision through the contractual Disciplinary and Grievance procedure. The intention of the ban is to maximise the pressure to re-employ our pilots whilst the dispute continues. Recruitment of replacement pilots delays a successful resolution to the dispute.
The HKAOA will not provide support for replacement pilots in any circumstances whereby it would normally act on behalf of a member pilot. Such support is a major ingredient of a pilot’s airline career and includes assistance in case of accident or incident, discipline and grievance, legal representation in foreign countries, personal insurance, family support, salary negotiation and contract protection.
Should any pilot have questions relating to this ban, please contact the HKAOA.