The union that represents Cathay Pacific’s flight attendants has called on its members to “warm up” after the airline’s management failed to give in to their demands.
The comments come after the Cathay Pacific Flight Attendant’s Union gave members an update on discussions with the Inflight Services Department over the cabin crew’s year-end negotiations.
The topics on the agenda included a pay increase, extending the retirement age, the outport base agreement, and even signing a Union Recognition Agreement.
On Monday, the FAU wrote that the Inflight Services Department tried to negotiate the current Outport Base Agreement, which is due to expire at the end of this month.
The current agreement demands among other things that the number of outport-based crew — meaning crew that are not based in Hong Kong — should not be more than 15 percent of the total number of cabin crew, and they shall only operate based routes between outport bases.
In September, members also voted to extend the retirement age for cabin crew from 55 to 60. Last month, they voted for a 3.5% pay rise plus a month’s bonus for 70 percent (7,200) of Hong Kong based cabin crew.
A statement posted on the FAU’s website and Facebook page yesterday said that: “The response from Management to our very reasonable and down to earth proposal was totally a disappointment.”
On the issue of a pay rise and the retirement age increase, they said: “Apparently, the door for negotiation on this agenda has been violently shut by ISD.
“Your ExCo [Executive Committee] has already been extremely patient with the tactics that ISD [Inflight Services Department] used and their broken record regarding the topics on Retirement Age Extension.
“FAU [Flight Attendants Union] and our Members are getting tired of their manipulation.”
It concluded its message with: “It is time for everyone of YOU to be ready and stayed tune [sic] for any ACTION!”
They also posted the statement on Facebook accompanied by a picture of someone holding a sign saying: “Are U ready…?? FAU needs U now…”
Although it is not entirely clear what union action will take place, news of a strike could throw a spanner in the works for anyone planning on flying away from Hong Kong over Christmas.
News of a strike could also come as a blow for the airline, which recorded a loss of HK$2.05 billion for the first half of 2017. Cathay Pacific attributed the loss to tough competition from budget airlines and not enough revenue from ticket sales.
