!st of July Industrial Action
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Cathay tries to avert pilot strike
Sean Kennedy
Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 18:15 JST
A Cathay Pacific Airways jet passes the control tower at Hong Kong's international airport on June 20. REUTERS NEWS PHOTOHONG KONG — Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on Thursday it would hold more talks this week with the main pilots' union to try to settle a row over pay and working conditions before threatened industrial action on July 1.
In a statement after government-mediated negotiations between the two sides, Cathay said talks to resolve the dispute would resume on Friday at 9 a.m. (0100 GMT).
Pilots voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to take industrial action from July 1 if no agreement was reached, raising the possibility of potentially costly disruptions at the start of the busy summer holiday season.
Cathay and the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA), representing 1,200 of Cathay's 1,400 pilots, agreed last week to government meditation to try to settle the dispute.
The Cathay statement on Thursday said the two sides "had a frank exchange on their respective positions regarding the subject of remuneration and benefits".
The pilots have declined to specify the action they will take if no agreement is reached by July 1, but past actions have included "sick-outs" and work slowdowns that disrupted flights.
In a 1999 pay row, pilots staged a costly two-week "sickout" and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Cathay countered by laying on a fleet of more than 30 charter aircraft to maintain part of normal services, and said later the operation cost about HK$500 million (US$64 million). (Reuters News)</font>
Sean Kennedy
Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 18:15 JST
A Cathay Pacific Airways jet passes the control tower at Hong Kong's international airport on June 20. REUTERS NEWS PHOTOHONG KONG — Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on Thursday it would hold more talks this week with the main pilots' union to try to settle a row over pay and working conditions before threatened industrial action on July 1.
In a statement after government-mediated negotiations between the two sides, Cathay said talks to resolve the dispute would resume on Friday at 9 a.m. (0100 GMT).
Pilots voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to take industrial action from July 1 if no agreement was reached, raising the possibility of potentially costly disruptions at the start of the busy summer holiday season.
Cathay and the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA), representing 1,200 of Cathay's 1,400 pilots, agreed last week to government meditation to try to settle the dispute.
The Cathay statement on Thursday said the two sides "had a frank exchange on their respective positions regarding the subject of remuneration and benefits".
The pilots have declined to specify the action they will take if no agreement is reached by July 1, but past actions have included "sick-outs" and work slowdowns that disrupted flights.
In a 1999 pay row, pilots staged a costly two-week "sickout" and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Cathay countered by laying on a fleet of more than 30 charter aircraft to maintain part of normal services, and said later the operation cost about HK$500 million (US$64 million). (Reuters News)</font>
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Gentlemen, disregard 411A's posts. An analysis of his past posts reveal him to be a "Septic" with a claimed career spanning every contract job in existence. He attempts to wind up everyone, and prominently appears in any controversial thread. Best ignored.
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Canuck Revenger---
I deal in facts, not urban legend.
Notice that you have not addressed the post from "Flap 5". Those high salaries that you so crave are a thing of the past. The market will dictate and the market right now is headed lower. Lower cost carriers will predominate in the Asia/Pacific region, for you to expect the higher salaries of some American carriers (Delta for example) is simply not realistic. You may get a slight pay rise with your planned "action" but suspect it will not be anything like you want. You will have to settle for second best. Those are the facts.
I deal in facts, not urban legend.
Notice that you have not addressed the post from "Flap 5". Those high salaries that you so crave are a thing of the past. The market will dictate and the market right now is headed lower. Lower cost carriers will predominate in the Asia/Pacific region, for you to expect the higher salaries of some American carriers (Delta for example) is simply not realistic. You may get a slight pay rise with your planned "action" but suspect it will not be anything like you want. You will have to settle for second best. Those are the facts.
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No expert knowledge on the subject, but I suspect 411A is right. The days of huge salaries and the "expat" lifestyle are definitely on the wane, and not just in "Honkers" either. Sadly, too many people are totally unrealistic when it comes to salaries. The market WILL decide salary levels- always has, always will.
In the same way that companies like Ansett NZ have put themselves on the line when fighting pilot pay increases, others will follow. The world is changing, and pilots are not immune. Airlines will increasingly stand up to high pay claims.
I'm sure that most Cathay pilots are (rightly) incensed by the erosion in their pay and conditions- but they shouldn't be surprised, the writing has been on the wall for a long time. Good luck to them, whatever happens next...
In the same way that companies like Ansett NZ have put themselves on the line when fighting pilot pay increases, others will follow. The world is changing, and pilots are not immune. Airlines will increasingly stand up to high pay claims.
I'm sure that most Cathay pilots are (rightly) incensed by the erosion in their pay and conditions- but they shouldn't be surprised, the writing has been on the wall for a long time. Good luck to them, whatever happens next...
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Try and listen carefully........this dispute is MAINLY about issues OTHER than pay! If you could see what our rostering has become, you would appreciate our frustration and anger. As for the financial issues, we have been going backwards for OVER 8 YEARS!! The company has just recorded their BIGGEST profit EVER (the same year they forced us to take on average a 27% paycut, on the premise that the airline was in financial peril...!, ...oh, with ANOTHER paycut NEXT month!!!!). We will NOT allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. You can quote the mantra of 'market forces' all you want. The FACTS are that we are behind in almost every area, and we will fight for it to be redressed. The like of 411 and others and their opinions are of no consequence. Most of us don't care anymore, and the threats and intimidation from our management is like the proverbial water of a ducks back.... The REAL fact of the matter is that the company is in a VERY dicey situatin politically. They CAN'T afford to let the airline grind to a halt, as the HK Government will drop the hammer on them. There is MUCH talk of liberalising the aviation market in HK....which is the LAST thing that CX wants. If they can't be seen to run an airline without chronic labour problems, they will be passed over in favour of other airlines that promise to provide HK with a reliable service. Needless to say, firing your aircrew, or shutting down doesn't exactly demonstrate the needed qualities to the Government, or the travelling public of HK. We have had enough, and the management had better realise that this time we have come too far to back down. Start running the airline, not focusing on how much more you can screw out of your own employees. We are tired, fed-up, and incredibly angry. The ball is in the companys court.....and they had better play it V-E-R-Y carefully.
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I suspect that the HKG government will drop the hammer on these guys, big time. When push comes to shove, suspect that the market forces will prevail. CX management would do well to "fix" the rostering complaints, and keep the salary levels little changed. Much cheaper that way. Also would expect that other airlines are waiting with eager anticipation at the thought of increased traffic rights. Who knows, Cathay Pacific may well disappear altogether, or be a shadow of its former self.
