Threats fly over CX crew meals
Jasmine Siu
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
The Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union is threatening a massive sit-in if the management does not address changes to meal allowances and to new employment contracts.
At yesterday's press conference attended by 300 members, union honorary secretary Michelle Choi Yan-ling said the union feels that the time has come for action rather than words.
"We understand that matters involving money will take time to settle, but if the management fails to even show sincerity we will call for a massive sit-in or even other industrial action," Choi said.
Cathay Pacific reported an attributable profit of HK$3.15 billion last year and promised a salary increase averaging 4.5 percent for 90 percent of its Hong Kong staff.
But the union found that since February the company has significantly reduced meal allowances by an average of 18 percent for cabin crew members posted to Melbourne, Australia, and the practice is reportedly being extended to Nagoya, Japan, as well as Paris, France.
Instead of adhering to a 1986 agreement to offer meal allowances covering hotel coffee shop menus, the company is now offering allowances that cover only lounge menus, where the food offered is much less filling, according to cabin crew members.
Between February 1 and April 30, the union estimates the company has saved more than HK$1.1 million in meal allowances, based on prices cited from the Sofi's Lounge menu at Sofitel Melbourne.
It also found that cabin crew members who are switching to long-term contracts, after their initial three-year service, have different rates if they renewed them after April 2 this year.
Rates per flying hour have dropped from HK$176.80 to HK$159.30, while ground duty allowance has dropped from HK$88.40 to HK$79.65.
The union estimates at least 1,100 cabin crew members, who are currently on probation, will be affected.
The union has also spotted the removal from operation manual of a legal protection clause covering circumstances involving unruly passengers.
"If a cabin crew member is assaulted by a passenger, the company will help call the police but tell him/her to find a lawyer and pay for the legal costs," Choi said.
"This is entirely unreasonable."
A Cathay spokeswoman said it is looking into the manual's changes in wording.
"Our commitment to our staff involved in incidents whilst on duty has not changed," she said.
Threats fly over CX crew meals - The Standard