Cathay staff agree to joint protest over medical fees
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Cathay staff agree to joint protest over medical fees
Cathay staff agree to joint protest over medical feesMartin Wong
Updated on Dec 04, 2007
Cathay Pacific ground staff and cabin crew, angry at recent changes to their medical benefits scheme, will stage a protest on Monday.
They have also threatened to strike if management refuses to speak to them next week.
Speaking after a special meeting at the Regal Airport Hotel attended by 200 members, the chairwoman of the airline's Flight Attendants Union, Becky Kwan Siu-wa, said they demanded that the management listen to their views.
"We will have a protest next Monday and urge management to talk to us as soon as possible," she said.
This is the first time Cathay cabin crew and ground staff have united for a common cause.
Under a new scheme to start on January 1 that covers 10,000 workers, junior staff who joined the company after June 1997 will have to pay HK$30 for each consultation with a general practitioner and HK$50 for each specialist consultation.
For senior staff, the fees will be HK$50 and HK$100.
Ms Kwan did not reveal what form the protest would take, saying the union was still planning the event.
"But then we will escalate our industrial action if the company still fails to respond to us by that day. We may have a strike," Ms Kwan said.
"We may ask union members to call in on sick leave. We may ask our members not to serve passengers on the planes."
The union said the new scheme was unfair.
"Why should we pay at all? What will this lead to? Will it be the beginning of requiring workers having to pay to go to work?" Ms Kwan said.
The union said it had received feedback from disgruntled members and from ground staff colleagues over the proposal.
Cathay Pacific management said the new system was aimed at offering more protection to staff rather than asking them to pay more.
A company spokeswoman said: "The new scheme was proposed because many staff members told us that the current one cannot cover their medical expenses if they are critically ill and they have to be admitted to hospital."
She said the scheme would raise the company's insurance costs by 10 per cent.
"Many staff members support the new scheme. And in fact we have already revised the scheme a little bit after listening to their opinions, and the clinic fees were lowered," she said. She noted that the airline had been discussing the issue with the union and would continue negotiations.
Updated on Dec 04, 2007
Cathay Pacific ground staff and cabin crew, angry at recent changes to their medical benefits scheme, will stage a protest on Monday.
They have also threatened to strike if management refuses to speak to them next week.
Speaking after a special meeting at the Regal Airport Hotel attended by 200 members, the chairwoman of the airline's Flight Attendants Union, Becky Kwan Siu-wa, said they demanded that the management listen to their views.
"We will have a protest next Monday and urge management to talk to us as soon as possible," she said.
This is the first time Cathay cabin crew and ground staff have united for a common cause.
Under a new scheme to start on January 1 that covers 10,000 workers, junior staff who joined the company after June 1997 will have to pay HK$30 for each consultation with a general practitioner and HK$50 for each specialist consultation.
For senior staff, the fees will be HK$50 and HK$100.
Ms Kwan did not reveal what form the protest would take, saying the union was still planning the event.
"But then we will escalate our industrial action if the company still fails to respond to us by that day. We may have a strike," Ms Kwan said.
"We may ask union members to call in on sick leave. We may ask our members not to serve passengers on the planes."
The union said the new scheme was unfair.
"Why should we pay at all? What will this lead to? Will it be the beginning of requiring workers having to pay to go to work?" Ms Kwan said.
The union said it had received feedback from disgruntled members and from ground staff colleagues over the proposal.
Cathay Pacific management said the new system was aimed at offering more protection to staff rather than asking them to pay more.
A company spokeswoman said: "The new scheme was proposed because many staff members told us that the current one cannot cover their medical expenses if they are critically ill and they have to be admitted to hospital."
She said the scheme would raise the company's insurance costs by 10 per cent.
"Many staff members support the new scheme. And in fact we have already revised the scheme a little bit after listening to their opinions, and the clinic fees were lowered," she said. She noted that the airline had been discussing the issue with the union and would continue negotiations.
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Message from William Chau sent to all ground staff this evening. Head buried in the sand, or at least somewhere else quite dark.
Basically to summarise:
Concerned to see FAU threatening to disrupt operations at festive season.
Such action will alarm public and undermine confidence in Cathay, and affect other employees.
Rightchoice is enhanced (obviously...!?)
Changes in Rightchoice will align with the market (or at least the Dickensian companies they chose to benchmark against!)
Blah blah blah about the changes and how they have been introduced not to save money.
And ends
Quote
I hope that the FAU will take all this into account and adopt a more constructive approach in dealing with this matter. In doing so, they would benefit not only their members, but also their other colleagues throughout the company and our customers.
Unquote
Sounds like we are in for a winter of discontent.
Basically to summarise:
Concerned to see FAU threatening to disrupt operations at festive season.
Such action will alarm public and undermine confidence in Cathay, and affect other employees.
Rightchoice is enhanced (obviously...!?)
Changes in Rightchoice will align with the market (or at least the Dickensian companies they chose to benchmark against!)
Blah blah blah about the changes and how they have been introduced not to save money.
And ends
Quote
I hope that the FAU will take all this into account and adopt a more constructive approach in dealing with this matter. In doing so, they would benefit not only their members, but also their other colleagues throughout the company and our customers.
Unquote
Sounds like we are in for a winter of discontent.
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Because of the CoS for the flight crew CX would not dare mess with the medical as they know that they would be in the high court post haste.
Same goes for the A scale (pre 93) and B scale (93-97) ground expats.
Post 97 ground expats, cabin crew and all local ground staff are on 'RIGHTchoice' so they get whatever the company considers as RIGHT at the time in question.
Moral of the story: Cathay will treat its staff just as well as they have to to keep our of court (most of the time).
BTW the flight crew will get all of the upside of the new scheme with none of the downside.
I'm not surprised that the AOA is not saying anything (except maybe 'I'm all right Jack')
Same goes for the A scale (pre 93) and B scale (93-97) ground expats.
Post 97 ground expats, cabin crew and all local ground staff are on 'RIGHTchoice' so they get whatever the company considers as RIGHT at the time in question.
Moral of the story: Cathay will treat its staff just as well as they have to to keep our of court (most of the time).
BTW the flight crew will get all of the upside of the new scheme with none of the downside.
I'm not surprised that the AOA is not saying anything (except maybe 'I'm all right Jack')
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I reckon now is an opportunity to show some solidarity amongst us (cabin crew / pilots / ground staff ).
....whether we have a "set of kahunas" is another issue...
....whether we have a "set of kahunas" is another issue...
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Doors to manual.......
There is a more serious side to this for us of course. If CX follows the same form as the last three cabin crew strikes flight deck crew will either be rostered or 'asked' to man the doors (no cabin service) to 'help the company out'. As we are qualified to operate the doors due to the SP course, junior crew can be left in an invidious position.
Last edited by Kitsune; 6th Dec 2007 at 07:35.
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Where is the AOA? This is exactly the time to show some balls and standby our flight attendent, in turn, when we need their support, they will do the same. It is sad that the AOA didn't come out to support the FAU, this just shows how useless and outdated the AOA has become. They don't even realize that this is the best opportunities to help strenghthen our own causes (Ie our COS issues with the company), and also the flight attendent and ground staff. I can't stand the lack of pro-active action fron the AOA, it just makes you wonder, what are they doing with all the members fees... Very sad...
Last edited by cxhk; 6th Dec 2007 at 16:10. Reason: typos
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it's situations like this that make me weep with frustration as to the complete inability of our so called 'profession' to get its collective act together. Why any young pilots continue to waste their careers here is beyond me. This is not one airline...more like seven of them!
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We should be supporting the FAU on this as well.
It affects us as well.
We have to take a united front to CX on this matter and everything else. Get the AOA, CPU, FAu and every other union present at CX and Stand Up for Ourselves.
Come on AOA "DO YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!!" Get onboard with the others and get the company to bend over for us.
If the FAu can get a 5% payrise and we only got 3%? WTF!!!!
It affects us as well.
We have to take a united front to CX on this matter and everything else. Get the AOA, CPU, FAu and every other union present at CX and Stand Up for Ourselves.
Come on AOA "DO YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!!" Get onboard with the others and get the company to bend over for us.
If the FAu can get a 5% payrise and we only got 3%? WTF!!!!
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From the SCMP online site:
I can't view any more than that, 'cause I can't afford the subscription....
Good to see our 3% is less than the average Hong Kong payrise as well.
HK hallmarks are high turnover, low pay rises
Hong Kong employees are the second-most-disloyal in Asia and can expect the second-lowest average pay rises next year, according to a regional survey.
Hong Kong employees are the second-most-disloyal in Asia and can expect the second-lowest average pay rises next year, according to a regional survey.
Good to see our 3% is less than the average Hong Kong payrise as well.
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Message from Director Corporate Development
There has been a good deal of media coverage in Hong Kong and some overseas about the threat of industrial action by the Flight Attendants’ Union over the co-pay aspects of our new RightChoice medical scheme for Hong Kong-based staff.
The Hong Kong public, our customers and our employees are worried that if these threats are realised there will be disruption to our services over the peak Christmas season.
The management wishes to assure all of our staff that we are working assiduously to resolve this matter and prevent the worst from happening.
In response to feedback from staff and their representatives, we have already lowered the level of co-pay for the most junior members of staff.
We have also announced the establishment of a Working Group which will involve staff representatives, including the FAU, to review the scheme in the third quarter of next year when we have some solid experience of how it has settled down.
We are communicating on an ongoing basis with staff about their ideas as to how the scheme might be improved. We have issued an invitation to the FAU for further discussions but they have so far not responded, and plan a large public demonstration in Hong Kong on Monday.
While we recognise that staff hold a variety of views on RightChoice, we consider threats of sick-outs, refusal to serve passengers and even strike action a completely disproportionate reaction, especially at a time when many thousands of people in Hong Kong and many parts of the world are eagerly looking forward to a year-end break flying Cathay Pacific.
The company will continue its discussion with all staff representatives in seeking to resolve the matter and ensure the travelling public and our own employees enjoy a peaceful and trouble-free festive season.
Augustus Tang
Hey Augustus..... What are you going to do on Xmas day when all your flights are manned but no service? What sort of image is this going to show the public about Cathay and their management? What will the mainland directors think of Cathay Management when they can't even control their own staff?
Swire Board - you'd better pull finger and actually pay your staff and listen to their needs. You'll be the laughing stock of other managers around the world for this stuff up. Phillip Chen will be laughing his head off.
You don't believe me? Then wait and see what happens between now and Christmas. The public is starting to realise that Cathay is screwing it's staff. With all the industrial news in the papers lately it's hard to miss. The public is starting to question why?
All I can say is
"BRING IT ON" - Screw CX management
There has been a good deal of media coverage in Hong Kong and some overseas about the threat of industrial action by the Flight Attendants’ Union over the co-pay aspects of our new RightChoice medical scheme for Hong Kong-based staff.
The Hong Kong public, our customers and our employees are worried that if these threats are realised there will be disruption to our services over the peak Christmas season.
The management wishes to assure all of our staff that we are working assiduously to resolve this matter and prevent the worst from happening.
In response to feedback from staff and their representatives, we have already lowered the level of co-pay for the most junior members of staff.
We have also announced the establishment of a Working Group which will involve staff representatives, including the FAU, to review the scheme in the third quarter of next year when we have some solid experience of how it has settled down.
We are communicating on an ongoing basis with staff about their ideas as to how the scheme might be improved. We have issued an invitation to the FAU for further discussions but they have so far not responded, and plan a large public demonstration in Hong Kong on Monday.
While we recognise that staff hold a variety of views on RightChoice, we consider threats of sick-outs, refusal to serve passengers and even strike action a completely disproportionate reaction, especially at a time when many thousands of people in Hong Kong and many parts of the world are eagerly looking forward to a year-end break flying Cathay Pacific.
The company will continue its discussion with all staff representatives in seeking to resolve the matter and ensure the travelling public and our own employees enjoy a peaceful and trouble-free festive season.
Augustus Tang
Hey Augustus..... What are you going to do on Xmas day when all your flights are manned but no service? What sort of image is this going to show the public about Cathay and their management? What will the mainland directors think of Cathay Management when they can't even control their own staff?
Swire Board - you'd better pull finger and actually pay your staff and listen to their needs. You'll be the laughing stock of other managers around the world for this stuff up. Phillip Chen will be laughing his head off.
You don't believe me? Then wait and see what happens between now and Christmas. The public is starting to realise that Cathay is screwing it's staff. With all the industrial news in the papers lately it's hard to miss. The public is starting to question why?
All I can say is
"BRING IT ON" - Screw CX management
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Way to go Becky!!! (and FAU members!!)...
Show these bastards on monday that you have the balls...unlike pathetic ST and the AOA..gutless..spineless..useless..
Typical management/swire style from AT's letter again to try and show how they are the good guys and employees simply an ungratefull bunch of idiots..
Hope this demonstration (of things to come!!) will send a clear message to all that staff are fed up with all the
at CX and KA..
Time for the masses to take to the streets and sort things out..once and for all..
Viva la FAU!!!!Give 'em hell...
Show these bastards on monday that you have the balls...unlike pathetic ST and the AOA..gutless..spineless..useless..
Typical management/swire style from AT's letter again to try and show how they are the good guys and employees simply an ungratefull bunch of idiots..
Hope this demonstration (of things to come!!) will send a clear message to all that staff are fed up with all the
at CX and KA..Time for the masses to take to the streets and sort things out..once and for all..
Viva la FAU!!!!Give 'em hell...
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Doors to manual.......
There is a more serious side to this for us of course. If CX follows the same form as the last three cabin crew strikes flight deck crew will either be rostered or 'asked' to man the doors (no cabin service) to 'help the company out'. As we are qualified to operate the doors due to the SP course, junior crew can be left in an invidious position.
Kitsune,
If junior crew are 'asked to' man the doors, I can count perhaps 2 doors, maximum 3 that could be manned. What about the rest ? Also, according to Section 2 of Vol. 1, the cheeky bastards don't have a clause that states we can man doors. If so, they would require us to man doors on freighter flights as well. To take this to the extreme per se, what else can they ask us to do to help them out ? Refuel the aircraft ? Assist with boarding ?
Better still, according to my FCOM 3, under Limitations, Minimum Cabin Crew, it clearly states that the minimum of cabin attendants to be carried on flights operated for the purpose of public transport of passengers must be not less than the number of main aircraft exits.
So are they asking us to break a limitation on purpose to help ? Hmm...
I have no problem in stating clearly to whom ever asked me to man a door, firstly "I would like to confirm that we are on a recorded line please" and secondly that I refuse, on the grounds that it this is not stated clearly under my CoS nor Vol. 1 Section 2.
Should the person asking me to 'help the Company out' state that I am not acting in the interest of the Company, that I am a problematic employee or words to that effect, I can ask them to look up Vol. 1 Section 4, 4-2-4.
(It pays to 'know' solicitors that specialise in contractual law, and give 'advise' when One might see a need
)
There is a more serious side to this for us of course. If CX follows the same form as the last three cabin crew strikes flight deck crew will either be rostered or 'asked' to man the doors (no cabin service) to 'help the company out'. As we are qualified to operate the doors due to the SP course, junior crew can be left in an invidious position.
Kitsune,
If junior crew are 'asked to' man the doors, I can count perhaps 2 doors, maximum 3 that could be manned. What about the rest ? Also, according to Section 2 of Vol. 1, the cheeky bastards don't have a clause that states we can man doors. If so, they would require us to man doors on freighter flights as well. To take this to the extreme per se, what else can they ask us to do to help them out ? Refuel the aircraft ? Assist with boarding ?
Better still, according to my FCOM 3, under Limitations, Minimum Cabin Crew, it clearly states that the minimum of cabin attendants to be carried on flights operated for the purpose of public transport of passengers must be not less than the number of main aircraft exits.
So are they asking us to break a limitation on purpose to help ? Hmm...
I have no problem in stating clearly to whom ever asked me to man a door, firstly "I would like to confirm that we are on a recorded line please" and secondly that I refuse, on the grounds that it this is not stated clearly under my CoS nor Vol. 1 Section 2.
Should the person asking me to 'help the Company out' state that I am not acting in the interest of the Company, that I am a problematic employee or words to that effect, I can ask them to look up Vol. 1 Section 4, 4-2-4.
(It pays to 'know' solicitors that specialise in contractual law, and give 'advise' when One might see a need
)
Last edited by Hellenic aviator; 11th Dec 2007 at 09:59.
How can we man the doors? we are locked away in the "Sterile Cockpit" unless they wanna change the policy on that too!