A-V-8R
27th Mar 2002, 16:07
Having had weathered a strike or two in my life, I take interest is such things......Ask any scab at United who tries to engage me in "friendly" conversation. Sometimes I can reduce them to tears......... .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> . .. .International Labour Organization vs Cathay. . . .Tuesday March 26, 7:45 pm Eastern Time. .Press Release. .. .SOURCE: Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association. .Complaint Against Cathay Pacific Airways Launched With International Labour Organisation (ILO). .International Pilots Organisation Calls on UN Body to Investigate. .. .HONG KONG, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) has formally requested an investigation by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) into the practices of Cathay Pacific Airways management in the ongoing dispute with its pilots. The group charges that Cathay Pacific management has violated international standards of workers protection agreed to by many nations including China. The ILO is the UN agency which monitors social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights.. .. .The letter written by Captain Ted Murphy, President of IFALPA, and addressed to the Honorable Juan Somavia, Director General of the ILO, cites violations by Cathay Pacific management of the ILO's conventions including Conventions 87, 98 and 158. These Conventions encompass the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Rights to Organise, Termination of Employment Convention, as well as the Right of Appeal and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention.. .. .Captain Murphy wrote, "In my long career as a pilot, as a representative of pilots and as President of IFALPA, I have witnessed countless disputes between labour organisations and management, but I can honestly say that I have never seen an attack on a union quite like that being waged by Swire's Cathay Pacific Airways.''. .. .The letter to the ILO cited the unfair termination of 51 employees without cause, specifically union committee members and negotiators, and continued patterns of abuse. These include intimidatory tactics against union members and clear indications of Cathay Pacific's intention to eliminate the effectiveness of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA), the representative body for Cathay Pacific's 1,600 pilots. IFALPA's request for an investigation marks the second time in a month that a UN body has been alerted to the circumstances surrounding the Cathay dispute. In February, the HKAOA sent a letter to the UN's Office of the Commission of Human Rights asking for an investigation into labour rights in Hong Kong.. .. .The HKAOA has been engaged in one of the longest running labor disputes in history, dating back to 1993. Currently the company refuses to negotiate a settlement with its pilots despite repeated attempts by the pilots to ask management to come back to the table. Meanwhile the 51 sacked union pilots and their families rely on their colleagues for welfare support.. .. .In recent weeks, international labour organisations including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the American Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), ALPA International and the Allied Pilots Association representing American Airlines pilots have expressed increasing concern about the situation in Hong Kong and the Government's failure to uphold basic labour rights.. .. .About HKAOA. .. .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 1,600 pilots of Cathay Pacific Airways.. .. .HKAOA is represented internationally by the Hong Kong Airline Pilots' Association (HKALPA), a member of the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations (IFALPA). IFALPA is comprised of some 95 Member Associations and represents 100,000 pilots around the world.. .. .HKAOA press releases and the full text of IFALPA letter to the ILO are available on the Internet at <a href="http://bbs.hkalpa.org" target="_blank">http://bbs.hkalpa.org</a> . .. .SOURCE: Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association