conan
27th Oct 2000, 06:32
MASS SICK OUT AND STRIKE THREATENED
Cathay Pilots are declaring war on the company, planning a new round of industrial action that could lead to a mass sick out and a Christmas strike
Long running fury over what crew say are unworkable rosters - fuelled by anger at new contracts for retirement aged Captains- is to peak within weeks , with a vote on renewed action .
Less than 18 months after a row over pay and conditions disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers, more than 1000 pilots are due to meet on Nov 22 to try to force Cathay's hand in negotiations.
We're about to declare war one pilot said yesterday. Another said "They want to kick us in the teeth and have our goodwill as well. It's not going to happen.
If the votes go through any retirement age pilot taking new contracts will be thrown out of the union on the grounds that they have damaged the of union members and their families. All other union members - about 90% of the airlines pilots will be obliged to avoid flying with those pilots, in the interests of flight safety and to reduce personal stress in the cockpit, a union letter to members says.
In practice, this means that anyone rostered on the same flight as the so called extenders will phone in sick due to stress. Pilots are also expected. Pilots are also expected to resolve that " unless management makes a significant attempt to change their stance", another meeting will be called in December to decide what steps to take next. This is understood to mean a strike ballot , will be sought.
We are not prepared to discount anything . The membership is that frustrated that I wouldn't be surprised to see a call for strike action,but it's far too early to tell at this stage. AOA general secretary John Findlay said yesterday.
There is increasing frustration that nothing is happening. The pilots' rosters are getting worse, not better he said pilots could not plan family lives as their rosters constantly changed and often bore little resemblance to those published at the start of the month.
Mr Findlay said the intention of the vote on flying with extenders was not to cause disruptions through a sick out but to ensure passenger safety.
The intention here is is to prevent any conflict in the cockpit. It cannot be understated just how angry the pilots are that their colleagues are selling them short, he said" There is such a high strength of feeling , such anger, that if they feel that strongly about it they should not go into the cockpit.... that's not conducive to flight safety. Our advice is that they should seek medical opinion [ on how to reduce their stress levels]
Last month the Post reported that 4 retirement aged Captains had signed new contracts paying about 30% less than their old salaries. That number is believed to have since increased to 6.
While the company says the extensions mean crew can be trained more quickly to fit Cathay's expansion plans and will bring better opportunities for all pilots, many see their colleagues as SCABS who are denying them promotions and have sapped their bargaining power.
About 1100 of Cathay's 1300 pilots are already taking a work to rule action in a protest over rosters. Since July they have refused to work overtime, on their days off , or even answer the phone if the Company calls . Cathay hit back by reducing guaranteed days off and putting more crews on standby when they are obliged to work if required.
Cathay spokeswoman Lisa Wong Lai Shan yesterday restated the companies position that extending the employment of crew past the age of 55 on mutually agreed pay rates would not harm anyone and could create longer term promotion opportunities.
The real issue is the rostering practices she said. Both sides have agreed that we'll reopen our negotiations in early November. We'll definitely try our best to resolve the issues.
Written by Jo Bowman
Thanks Jo for an unbiased piece
Here are my thoughts. The company has been promising improved rosters for more than 6 years. They have only ever gone backwards. What makes anyone believe that things will improve in the next few months? They are obviously in no rush to fix things,because they are only going to start talking in November. This is an issue of paramount importance, not a moment should be lost. The problem is that the company would like to fix the rosters, but can't. They don't have enough crew, are expanding and need the crews on side. The sins of the past are coming home to roost. The man management tactics that have been employed for the past 7 years are bearing fruit, all of it rotten, They cannot expand faster than they are because they don't have the crews, and the crews are definitely not on side.What a wonderful way to run a company!!!!
As for the extendees , the central issue is them extending on B scales . Had they been paid their existing salaries there would have been a lot less discontent. One again the Company is pushing through new Conditions of service without negotiation. It's typical, in order to save a few bucks they have managed to alienate the entire aircrew body yet again. The moral of cent wise dollar foolish comes to mind.
In regard to rosters I've had 15 changes so far this month. Personally I don't know why they bother printing one, no one seems to stick to it.
In closing I have to ask why the very senior management of this company are allowing this to continue. Are they not embarrassed by continuing articles highlighting discontent amongst their employees low moral, possible strike action and it's associated passenger disruption . All of this is negative publicity. Are they so arrogant and insular that they feel that they can disregard all of these issues.? We are in a service industry, one where service is our lifeblood. Goodwill from staff is evident in the service provided. There is no goodwill left in the crews anymore. Sure we do the job but our hearts are no longer in it. I used to be devastated if I arrived late at a destination. Now I don't care when I get there, On time! tomorrow, it's all the same to me. I no longer care, and that is a very sad state of affairs. Unfortunately that is what we have become. We have gone from being valuable assets of this company to disposable items. A scale pilots are particularly disposable. The quicker they are disposed of the better. The fact that their experience is going as well doesn't seem to matter.
[This message has been edited by conan (edited 27 October 2000).]
Cathay Pilots are declaring war on the company, planning a new round of industrial action that could lead to a mass sick out and a Christmas strike
Long running fury over what crew say are unworkable rosters - fuelled by anger at new contracts for retirement aged Captains- is to peak within weeks , with a vote on renewed action .
Less than 18 months after a row over pay and conditions disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers, more than 1000 pilots are due to meet on Nov 22 to try to force Cathay's hand in negotiations.
We're about to declare war one pilot said yesterday. Another said "They want to kick us in the teeth and have our goodwill as well. It's not going to happen.
If the votes go through any retirement age pilot taking new contracts will be thrown out of the union on the grounds that they have damaged the of union members and their families. All other union members - about 90% of the airlines pilots will be obliged to avoid flying with those pilots, in the interests of flight safety and to reduce personal stress in the cockpit, a union letter to members says.
In practice, this means that anyone rostered on the same flight as the so called extenders will phone in sick due to stress. Pilots are also expected. Pilots are also expected to resolve that " unless management makes a significant attempt to change their stance", another meeting will be called in December to decide what steps to take next. This is understood to mean a strike ballot , will be sought.
We are not prepared to discount anything . The membership is that frustrated that I wouldn't be surprised to see a call for strike action,but it's far too early to tell at this stage. AOA general secretary John Findlay said yesterday.
There is increasing frustration that nothing is happening. The pilots' rosters are getting worse, not better he said pilots could not plan family lives as their rosters constantly changed and often bore little resemblance to those published at the start of the month.
Mr Findlay said the intention of the vote on flying with extenders was not to cause disruptions through a sick out but to ensure passenger safety.
The intention here is is to prevent any conflict in the cockpit. It cannot be understated just how angry the pilots are that their colleagues are selling them short, he said" There is such a high strength of feeling , such anger, that if they feel that strongly about it they should not go into the cockpit.... that's not conducive to flight safety. Our advice is that they should seek medical opinion [ on how to reduce their stress levels]
Last month the Post reported that 4 retirement aged Captains had signed new contracts paying about 30% less than their old salaries. That number is believed to have since increased to 6.
While the company says the extensions mean crew can be trained more quickly to fit Cathay's expansion plans and will bring better opportunities for all pilots, many see their colleagues as SCABS who are denying them promotions and have sapped their bargaining power.
About 1100 of Cathay's 1300 pilots are already taking a work to rule action in a protest over rosters. Since July they have refused to work overtime, on their days off , or even answer the phone if the Company calls . Cathay hit back by reducing guaranteed days off and putting more crews on standby when they are obliged to work if required.
Cathay spokeswoman Lisa Wong Lai Shan yesterday restated the companies position that extending the employment of crew past the age of 55 on mutually agreed pay rates would not harm anyone and could create longer term promotion opportunities.
The real issue is the rostering practices she said. Both sides have agreed that we'll reopen our negotiations in early November. We'll definitely try our best to resolve the issues.
Written by Jo Bowman
Thanks Jo for an unbiased piece
Here are my thoughts. The company has been promising improved rosters for more than 6 years. They have only ever gone backwards. What makes anyone believe that things will improve in the next few months? They are obviously in no rush to fix things,because they are only going to start talking in November. This is an issue of paramount importance, not a moment should be lost. The problem is that the company would like to fix the rosters, but can't. They don't have enough crew, are expanding and need the crews on side. The sins of the past are coming home to roost. The man management tactics that have been employed for the past 7 years are bearing fruit, all of it rotten, They cannot expand faster than they are because they don't have the crews, and the crews are definitely not on side.What a wonderful way to run a company!!!!
As for the extendees , the central issue is them extending on B scales . Had they been paid their existing salaries there would have been a lot less discontent. One again the Company is pushing through new Conditions of service without negotiation. It's typical, in order to save a few bucks they have managed to alienate the entire aircrew body yet again. The moral of cent wise dollar foolish comes to mind.
In regard to rosters I've had 15 changes so far this month. Personally I don't know why they bother printing one, no one seems to stick to it.
In closing I have to ask why the very senior management of this company are allowing this to continue. Are they not embarrassed by continuing articles highlighting discontent amongst their employees low moral, possible strike action and it's associated passenger disruption . All of this is negative publicity. Are they so arrogant and insular that they feel that they can disregard all of these issues.? We are in a service industry, one where service is our lifeblood. Goodwill from staff is evident in the service provided. There is no goodwill left in the crews anymore. Sure we do the job but our hearts are no longer in it. I used to be devastated if I arrived late at a destination. Now I don't care when I get there, On time! tomorrow, it's all the same to me. I no longer care, and that is a very sad state of affairs. Unfortunately that is what we have become. We have gone from being valuable assets of this company to disposable items. A scale pilots are particularly disposable. The quicker they are disposed of the better. The fact that their experience is going as well doesn't seem to matter.
[This message has been edited by conan (edited 27 October 2000).]