Survey: Are you accepting their offer?
Think very carefully
Have a real good look at what they are offering (or what they aren't)
I would suspect that with a command slot in a regional in Aust it would take you at least 5-6 years in Cathay before you even get close to equalling your current wage with the regional. Cathay has had one payrise in the last ten years. Don't underestimate the little CPI increases that your current EBA gets.
Don't under estimate the costs of Hong Kong. Simple things like a litre of milk costing 30HKD or approx $4 AUD when spread across everything you buy start to really blow the budget after a while.
Good luck with the Deliberations however remember that Cathay is a company that is recruiting on it's reputations of the 80's whilst not publicising how it's driving the conditions down in this century.
I would suspect that with a command slot in a regional in Aust it would take you at least 5-6 years in Cathay before you even get close to equalling your current wage with the regional. Cathay has had one payrise in the last ten years. Don't underestimate the little CPI increases that your current EBA gets.
Don't under estimate the costs of Hong Kong. Simple things like a litre of milk costing 30HKD or approx $4 AUD when spread across everything you buy start to really blow the budget after a while.
Good luck with the Deliberations however remember that Cathay is a company that is recruiting on it's reputations of the 80's whilst not publicising how it's driving the conditions down in this century.
Join Date: Sep 2011
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@China Beached - Just want to correct something you wrote. The CEP's in CX did not get the HKPA due to the RDO coming into effect. The RDO basically states "same job - same pay" which means that all CEP's should essentially be paid the current DEP package, or alternatively the DEP's paid the CEP package! The grandfathering took care of that debacle but then CX found itself in a position where they couldn't hire anyone on DEP terms and the old CEP contract was not attracting anyone! So they needed to improve the terms. Add education - no effect. Add HKPA - no effect. They are scratching for the lowest, lowest bar possible. I'm haven't had the stomach to sit and work out what it would cost the company to just capitulate and say, "CEP terms for first 5 years, then DEP for everyone" (or something similar) but I would hazard a guess that whilst costing more on the surface, in the long run they would save. One day I'll work it out. Bottom line, any changes to the CEP package from the "old" one are simply because they cannot attract anyone with the old terms. Anyone accepting the current terms in my book is seriously compromising their professional/financial future! CX calls itself a "Career airline" - in the past I believe that was true. Now I believe that it's only true because once you are in, by the time you've accrued enough hours to leave or paid back all your debt, you'll have wasted 10 years and no one else will have you or you won't be able to take going to the bottom of another carriers seniority list.
@SAABGUY - 12-24 months? Not sure. Depends how many turkeys take the current package. The wheels turn veeeery slowly with CX and they are interested not in employee welfare, but in bottom line economics. The old adage of "pay peanuts, get monkeys" is ringing loudly at the moment. Of course, some people see it as having no choice if they want to fly. But it's a path fraught with serious challenges. Many of which will not become apparent until the PNR has passed and they have you by the short and curlies.
@SAABGUY - 12-24 months? Not sure. Depends how many turkeys take the current package. The wheels turn veeeery slowly with CX and they are interested not in employee welfare, but in bottom line economics. The old adage of "pay peanuts, get monkeys" is ringing loudly at the moment. Of course, some people see it as having no choice if they want to fly. But it's a path fraught with serious challenges. Many of which will not become apparent until the PNR has passed and they have you by the short and curlies.
LazyEights
That is what CX would like you to believe. Those pilots coming into CX via the Transitional Course and I would argue the Advanced Course would be covered under Section 13 “Exception for employment of person with special skills, knowledge or experience” of the RDO.
Actually no it doesn't. What it actually says is:
Prior to the Icadet scheme, CEP were employed based on the fact they had a HK Permanent ID card. This resulted in Cadets of different races, though I will concede that most were of a HK Chinese background. Many though were the children of predominantly European expats. As cadets were employed based on their right to live in Hong Kong rather than race, it is questionable whether the RDO even applies.
Hong Kong "RACE DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE"
The CEP's in CX did not get the HKPA due to the RDO coming into effect.
The RDO basically states "same job - same pay" which means that all CEP's should essentially be paid the current DEP package, or alternatively the DEP's paid the CEP package!
An Ordinance to render discrimination, harassment and vilification, on the ground of race, unlawful; to prohibit serious vilification of persons on that ground; to extend the jurisdiction of the Equal Opportunities Commission to include such unlawful acts; to confer on the Commission the function of eliminating such discrimination, harassment and vilification and promoting equality and harmony between people of different races; to amend certain definitions, and the provisions on discrimination against contract workers, in existing anti-discrimination legislation as well as the provision on unlawful sexual harassment by creating a hostile or intimidating environment in the Sex Discrimination Ordinance for alignment with corresponding provisions in this Ordinance; to make other consequential and related amendments to enactments; and for related purposes.
Hong Kong "RACE DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE"
Don't under estimate the costs of Hong Kong. Simple things like a litre of milk costing 30HKD or approx $4 AUD when spread across everything you buy start to really blow the budget after a while.
Wellcome Delivers
Yep I love the price of beer in hkg. Cheap - $5 Hkd for a carlsberg
Electronics (as long as the locals use it)- very cheap
Its just there is also plenty of things that are comparatively expensive too.
And I agree don't believe everything you read on this website including the company propaganda. Read everything with a careful eye to garbage detail.
Electronics (as long as the locals use it)- very cheap
Its just there is also plenty of things that are comparatively expensive too.
And I agree don't believe everything you read on this website including the company propaganda. Read everything with a careful eye to garbage detail.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Regarding the time for upgrades:
1- SOs will be SOs for a minimum of four years. Don't count on less, but it may be longer.
2- If you were to join today, you would have approximately 1700 seniority numbers ahead of you, waiting for a command. Even if the training department was to run at full speed, there wouldn't be any more than 100 command upgrades per year. Realistically, count on about 50-75 command upgrades per year. Do the math, someone joining the company today would see his command no sooner than about 17 yrs after joining, but more likely 22-25 years later. Some might retire before reaching an upgrade.
During that time, you will enjoy lesser conditions than any other expats in HK and have no chance of getting a base for a long time, as they are all full and whatever opening arise is given in seniority.
Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but that is simply how it is. Please do join if that is an exciting career prospect for you.
1- SOs will be SOs for a minimum of four years. Don't count on less, but it may be longer.
2- If you were to join today, you would have approximately 1700 seniority numbers ahead of you, waiting for a command. Even if the training department was to run at full speed, there wouldn't be any more than 100 command upgrades per year. Realistically, count on about 50-75 command upgrades per year. Do the math, someone joining the company today would see his command no sooner than about 17 yrs after joining, but more likely 22-25 years later. Some might retire before reaching an upgrade.
During that time, you will enjoy lesser conditions than any other expats in HK and have no chance of getting a base for a long time, as they are all full and whatever opening arise is given in seniority.
Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but that is simply how it is. Please do join if that is an exciting career prospect for you.
