Facts not Fiction
 

Having read the book, which was at pains to separate fact from fiction, and perused the judgments, I feel a little clarification is required following on from The Handover's and BuzzBox's comments.

Firstly, 4 independent referees (i.e. the HK judges to date), have summarised the events - or the history. There is no evidence put forward by the Company of any "sick-out" immediately prior to 9th July 2001.

The line of "our members are too stressed to come to work" was back in 1999, and was a result of CPA having given termination notices to 700 pilots. Fair call, I would say.

Contract Compliance (CC) had been on and off for about 5 years. The WOE campaign was in about 1987…

The Handover is correct that you shouldn't be fired whilst on sick leave (Employment Ordinance protection) however you do have to report one day… one of The 49ers was fired immediately on return to work on 11th July. Therefore, the other 49ers all must have been at work on 9th July - so hardly a "mass sick-out".

There is plenty of oral evidence from the likes of Tyler, Chen, Barley and Rhodes that The 49ers were fired pursuant to the union EGM decision to take Limited Industrial Action (LIA) - "the trigger" as one of the judges remarks. On 3rd July Maximum Safety Strategy (MSS) was implemented - all of which was about operations and nothing to do with sick leave procedures.

So, all in all, I'm afraid the facts don't support The Handover's statements, sorry, except for the "backlash" and "dirty response" to which I would say followed "above board, published tactics" i.e. CC, LIA and MSS.

However, I'm not going to disagree with BuzzBox as I can't vouch either way - except I do recall that Rhodes published a graph showing "spikes" in sick rates - but these were all AFTER 9th July. I agree that the Company was backed into a corner - Tyler, Chen and Rhodes testified as much.

The main difference is that the AOA and its members were taking LEGAL action and CPA management took ILLEGAL action. It seems, however, that it is the "innocent" victims that have suffered the most.

Book launch
 

Not sure how many of you went to this The 49ers Book Launch but their entire stock was sold out.

John reads this forum. If he wants to contact you, he will.

Just got the book as a b"day pressie and it is a seriously good read. I was there through it all, but obviously did not know what went on behind the scenes. What did is riveting.

I recommend this to anyone who is a pilot or a member of a union or staff association around the world. It shows the appalling lengths some people in management positions will go to in the hope of advancing their careers, the sheer idiocy of some of them (the GFI is a classic of this) and the morale fibre and dogged determination (and bravery in the case of KAL and PAL) that is required to be a principal officer of a pilots association.

I had always assumed that some of the management that I have worked for over the years were striving for the moral low ground. Captain Warham allows me to see that I was right.

Edited to add; Buzzboz, you miss the point. The AOA did not instigate sickouts. I was there. They did not even condone an individual having a sickout. The stress on going to work was palpable, and I saw several pilots whom in my opinion should not have been flying. The honest ones stayed home, and some became 49'rs.

As a witness to the Papa India argument, I am very sensitive to stress and the ability to fly safely.

Dear John Warham,
I just bought your book going through HKG and I have to say: you ruined my 2 next layover rests. I couldn't put it down! What a read, what an eye opener when it comes to modern management, it clearly shows that a lot of things we suspect ,but normally believe they couldn't be true, are indeed going on behind closed doors in those ivory towers.
I had the pleasure to fly with one CPA retiree B.H. mentioned in your book
when all hell broke loose with you guys and he told me lot of the background then. So I was very interested in the whole story, which you filled in now.
Thank you very much sir,
all the best to you and your fellows!
16

16down, which book shop at the airport did you purchase it from? I tried at the airport some nights back (both sides of immigration) and no stock.

Didn't buy it at the airport, bought it in Swindon's in Kowloon.
Best regards,
16

I flew with John many years ago. Old school which meant didn't take SH1t which was a good thing at times but also a steep authority gradient, so he has never been my 'cup-of-tea'. However I am half way though the book and think it is excellent and hard to put down. Well written and having lived through the cr#p of the 90's and into 1999 and 2001+ I find it interesting and acurate as to the facts. I was angry at the time as to how the company treated us and also unhappy with the AOA leadership on occasion but I would like to say well done to John for this book and a good record of stressful times.

KAL FCU
 

Oh and an update on the KAL FCU....

John doesn't mention that several of the committee went to jail in 2001 and that a handful never got their jobs back. The union members are STILL paying them "subsistence" - until they are 55.

The management succeeded in splitting the union in 2005: ex-military versus Cheju Flying School-trained; the latter are in the FCU.

Nowadays, ex-military guys get their commands 3 years quicker than the Cheju guys.

And if you are a union committee member, you get a special pre-command assessment and automatically get another 2 years added i.e. 14 years as F/O before command course. I agree with you Moosp - bravery, moral fibre and dogged determination.

I just finished the book and WOW what a great read, thanks John.

I'm ashamed I didn't join the CPU, Im ashamed the AOA fooled us into abandoning you guys. MG won't look the same to me anymore:=

All the best for your return to the brotherhood :ok:

NP

Yes Buzz box we heard you the first time, do you have any proof of a sickout? Cathay claimed the same thing; maybe that is why they got charged with defamation?:=:=

As in the KAL union, commands were delayed for being a union member in Cathay Pacific, it’s called being Cat B’d for an undetermined amount of time and for no reason.:(

If NR could have put someone in jail, he would have. He tried to get the 49ers evicted from their home so jail would have been his next move.:yuk:

I wonder what MG got in return for abandoning the 49ers: a base, a work visa, a chalet, a promise……………………..?:hmm:

Nothing like leaving your mark on Aviation History.:ok:

Buzbox,

I'm sure no-one is doubting your memory.






I think what Bloggs was saying is that sometimes it might be better to leave things alone....

The book
 

John, very good work. i really would like to send you a letter or e mail if you would not mind.

The 49ers Book Signing
 

Here's another chance to get a signed copy of the book. Dymocks HK The 49ers Book Signing. It's at the Sai Kung branch on Friday the 20th. Scroll down the page to find the poster.

A highly accurate and detailed account of the troubled times of Cathay Pacific from the early 1990s' to 2010.

The lying managers are named and the book includes Court transcripts of those who perjured themselves. Some of these guys are still working with the company.

A must read for all current and past employees of Cathay Pacific, other Swire companies and every other airline.

If you don't get around to reading the book and learn what happened, it will be your loss and may ultimately even cost you your job as well.

Yes, I agree.

Good book, great read, even better summary of what shenanigans here pass as mangment (sic)....

Well done, John.


:ok:

e version seems to be available only in Kindle .azw format and I've a Sony Reader which, AFAIK,doesn't handle that.
Anyone know if it's available in epub/pdf/txt ?

...I believe there is one other individual who has a Sony reader.....somewhere in Upper Mongolia.... :}

Basil, if you have an iPhone you may be able to download the Kindle app and read it on your mobile.

Failing that just purchase a hard copy from eBay/Amazon etc. I'd recommend it to anyone that works in the industry.

In fact, I'm going to get a hard copy for reference purposes. :}

Air Profit,
Yes, it was foc from son who dumped it to buy Kindle :hmm:
OTOH also acquired his old EOS 20D :ok:

Smell the Coffee,
No i-Phone. Still waiting for one of kids to upgrade - and I'm not even from Aberdeen ;)