HK Based Freighter Crews, it has begun!
 

Conditions of Service will be as follows:-

Salary will be paid in Hong Kong Dollars. These scales have been calculated at the same percentage of B Scale as all other Freighter Scales (75% for FOs / FEs and 80%/85% for Captains).

Hong Kong based Freighter Crew are eligible for Annual Discretionary Bonus (thirteenth month), prorated for the time based in Hong Kong.

Local Terms apply. Thus Captains will receive a monthly special allowance of HK$24,000 in addition to salary, but no housing or children’s education allowance will be paid.

Other CoS and benefits will be as per Veta HKG local terms, white pages only.

Any Union input to this and how does it compare to Oasis?

Ooh...pilot shortage out of question and what next will CX take:yuk:

A mate of mine on the -400 pax fleet has been asked to give up his leave next month due to heavy tasking. Is this normal, or are the wheels beginning to come off the machine?

Yeah, well if only a certain pocket of 744 Captains would have the balls to say NO to flying the freighter (as many of them are entitled to).

While I can understand that the F/O's are 'pursuaded' to fly under the not-so-subtle veiled threat of having their upgrades delayed, there is no reason for the Captains to do so. This is where some pressure can be brought to bear.

Captain Xxxxx - a quiet word in your ear.......

And as for the wonderful new offer of HKG freighter bases on local terms.. What a great precedent to set. If you take it and get screwed, you deserve it! Mind you, it makes sense. There's no money in freight, right???

While I can understand that the F/O's are 'pursuaded' to fly under the not-so-subtle veiled threat of having their upgrades delayed, there is no reason for the Captains to do so.

So you expect the Cn's to take the 'heat' yet again. Reminds me of the MSS era. Either we all take action or forget it. I'll get my coat......

Yes........

I can't believe they want to start a HK Freighter base by offering a pay cut :*
Thy're such greedy fuchers! If you compare the proposed scale to the current US base scale, which is lower than Europe due to the strong BP, it is a paycut starting from year 4 FO until it becomes a huge paycut on year 8 FO
They say you can bid this HK freighter base after 2 years. No wonder, the first two years it would be a pay rise for a US FO on the freighter to take the HK base. Here are some numbers converted to USD for comparison, they assume 7.8 HKD per USD. These are monthly salary figures.
YR1 FO 6179 in HK vs 5292 in US (887 USD difference)
YR2 FO 6282 in HK vs 5792 in US (490 USD difference)
Year 3 the scales are just about tied...
YR3 FO 6388 in HK vs 6292 in US
Year 4 is where the scale in HK progressively gets ****tier and ****tier. It starts with a slight paycut going to a huge, almost 1000 USD per month paycut for year 8FO. That is 12,000 USD per year! What are they smoking and where can I get some...
YR4 FO 6496 in HK vs 6750 in US (254 USD difference)
YR5 FO 6716 in HK vs 7253 in US (537 USD difference)
YR10 FO 7627 in HK vs 8619 in US (992 USD difference)
I really hope nobody takes this ****ty deal. If they don't, then they will continue to pay Passenger 744 FOs and CAs to do the same job for 2 times the money. Anyone taking this deal is really screwing all of us! I know that everyone has their own situation to look after, but please, don't take this deal. If you go to Oasis you can make bundles more money. If you are on a freighter commitment then just request an HBR, you will make more money.
The 13th month bonus is discretionary, and even with it, you will only come close to the current scale but not reach it. If you are on a European scale then the pay-cut is even worse! :ugh: :ugh: :yuk:

what is it about UK tax @ 35% that you do not understand ??? The HKG Frt base will also be dsigned with "Commuters" in mind........................


get it ???

U.S. Rosters
 

One can only imagine the effect this is going to have on U.S. rosters. I am guessing... not very good.

What exactly ?
 

Not sure what all the fuss about this is. There have been Hong Kong bases Captains on Hong Kong rosters for a while now. Granted they are on the pay scale of whatever base the are in.

Also there are quite a few freighter FOs based in Hong Kong now, flying both the classic and the 400. As far as I know they do not get 13th so for them this might be good. FOs will be on pax pay by year four so who cares ?? If not they will be on by pass pay (unless the co has figured out how to get around that !!

Comparing Freighter scales between USAB and the new Hong Kong freighter is nowhere near as big a pay difference as that between some of the pax bases and Hong Kong. Or worse yet between bases !!

What is interesting is that it will cost the company more. So why are they offering it officially now ?


hmmmm

So why are they offering it officially now ?


Same thought crossed my mind. I think I know the answer but would like to hear other inputs

So why are they offering it?
 

Do a search on Crew Direct and look at the CN's on the freighter trips to ANC; 080, 096, 084....... might be a clue?

Thin end of a thick wedge methinks.....

well I guess Cathay don't care what end of what it is.................


as long as they don't have to pay any more wedge, eh??

I wonder if Number Cruncher has had the opportunity to er "crunch the numbers".

I also wonder if NC is in a position to comment if this "package" was included in, or discussed during COS08 negotiations....

Word round the camp fire is that our former colony were asking how our "on-shore" company was able to employ pilots without a green card....:eek:

You beat me to it Liam

ATTENTION ATTENTION....Calling NC!

So why are they offering it officially now ?

Because the HKD is going to get cheaper than the Pound, Euro,AUD NZD etc etc:}

So it's EXPATS on LOCAL terms!....... Thin Edge....WEDGE!

The following is meant for freighter officers only.

It depends on who wants this package...commuters wanting to get to australia or the US? For any EUR based guys it will be a huge paycut. For Aus and US based guys it will be neutral. I know there are many FEs that are EUR based that commute to Australia...they will take paycuts around 10% - CNs will take around 17% paycuts - I have assumed 13th month is paid.

I suspect this deal formally recognises the ongoing practice of hong kong rosters. Additionally, the classic will be regional only in a year or two so presumably those outport bases will close anyway(for the classic).

There will always be tax issues with basings and hence onshoring will be required. Many of our colleagues are on thin ice with their tax authorities. Being Hong Kong based and commuting may suit some of our colleagues who would prefer their name isn't listed in an onshore company employee list.

This is most definitely a commuter's offer - the lack of any housing for FO/FEs I think is the company recognising that FEs in particular have no choice in future if they wish to remain employed.

I do not see anything Machiavellian in this offer. If the CoS08 deal had been accepted, there would be no FACA and we would have UFO pay scales in place. This is similar to that situation except the pay is lower under this offer.

There is nothing positive in this deal for pax fleet officers!

"We have also received requests from Freighter Crew members working a Hong Kong roster (HBR) that they would like this situation to be formalized to give them security."

Nothing to do with CX paying tax on someone who has a european base yet never goes there!!

or

Nothing to do with european labour protection on termination of your contract!!

Call me cynical - no errr yes................................................

Glass Half Empty
You cynical???
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
However must fess up the same thought crossed my mind and am surprised you are the first to mention it. CX are not a charity and they are not just being warm and fuzzy to freight dogs because they like them. It's all to do with the bottom line I suspect.