CAPA Members Condemn Cathay Pacific Management's Unprecedented Actions Toward Pilots
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Association's monthly board meeting held in Washington, D.C. from August 5th-7th, the entire body of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), representing 21,000 U.S.-- based pilots, passed a resolution condemning the behavior of Cathay Pacific Airways management, for their unjust actions during the ongoing dispute with their pilot union, the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA). Specifically, the members of the board pledged to support the HKAOA in any means they deem necessary to solve this dispute with Cathay Pacific.
"CAPA members are joining the many other U.S. organizations such as Delta Airlines pilots, ALPA, and the AFL-CIO, to support the HKAOA during their long-winded plight with the management of Cathay Pacific," said Captain Bob Miller, President of CAPA. "We will support their continued struggle to obtain fair and equitable treatment from management," he added.
CAPA's support comes at the heels of a renewed sense of unity in the HKAOA, as Captain Nigel Demery was recently re-elected as union President.
"We appreciate the continued support of CAPA and the rest of the international labor community during this long-standing and painful dispute with the management of Cathay Pacific Airways," said Captain Nigel Demery, HKAOA President.
He added, "Cathay Pacific has said that they will meet with us once we stop our industrial action. Our hope is that management will we heed these most recent pleas from the U.S. for an open dialogue and agree to meet with us since we are currently under no industrial action, but only following the rules of our contract."
About CAPA
The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations' 21,000 pilot members include: the Allied Pilots Association (American Airlines), the Independent Pilots Association (UPS), National Pilots Association (AirTran Airways), Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (Southwest Airlines), and Teamsters Local-1224 Airline Professionals Association.
About the HKAOA
The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) was established in 1963 to represent the interests of pilots and flight engineers employed by Cathay Pacific Airways. Its objectives are to protect and further the interests of the aircrew profession and to safeguard and improve the interests and rights of members of the Association. HKAOA is the representative group for the 1,600 pilots of Cathay Pacific Airways.
CONDEMNATION RESOLUTION AND RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT
Whereas the pilots who fly for Cathay Pacific Airways, represented by the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA), are involved in the longest running labor dispute in Asia's history with Cathay management, and
Whereas July 2002 marks the one-year anniversary of Cathay's unfair dismissal of 51 HKAOA pilots, and
WHEREAS the HKAOA has repeatedly asked management to discuss the unwarranted dismissals, as well as outstanding issues on duty-time practices, fairer pay and benefits, and improved standards comparable to other major airlines, and
Whereas Cathay Pacific has consistently refused to discuss these issues with union representatives including denying a recent request from the HKAOA in April 2002 to solve this dispute through the decision of an independent mediator, and
WHEREAS the international labor community in the United States and worldwide has expressed their concern over Cathay's actions towards its pilots including an investigation by the International Labor Organization (ILO), and letters of support from Delta Airlines pilots, American Airline Pilots, the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the International Federation of Airline Pilots Association (IFALPA), and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), among others,
Therefore be it resolved that the entire body of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association (CAPA) including 21,000 pilot members of: the Allied Pilots Association, Independent Pilots Association, National Pilots Association, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, and the Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224, condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of Cathay Pacific Airways management, for their unjust actions during the dispute with the HKAOA, and specifically with the unwarranted termination of 51 Cathay Pacific pilots who have been denied due process, and
Be it further resolved that the entire body of CAPA asks Cathay Pacific management to respond to the HKAOA's repeated pleas for an open dialogue to discuss the termination of pilots and negotiate other outstanding contract issues, and
Be it further resolved that the entire body of CAPA will join the rest of the international labor community in a continued effort of total support for Cathay Pacific's pilots in their struggle to obtain a mutually acceptable contract with the company.