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Exclusive | Hong Kong Express cabin crew seek to join trade union in wake of cancellation controversy

More than 100 staff at the budget airline have agreed to join the Cabin Attendants Union in order to increase their bargaining power

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A Hong Kong Express aircraft is seen landing at Hong Kong International Airport. The Airlines has cancelled 18 flights that were due to fly to and from Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan. 07SEP17 SCMP / Roy Issa
Ernest Kao

More than half of the cabin crew members at budget airline Hong Kong Express are looking to step up their collective bargaining power by joining an industry trade union.

The move – which has been in the works for months due to employee concerns about alleged staffing, wages and management – will be sped up in light of the recent flight cancellation controversy, which exposed problems with manpower at the company.
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Unlike larger, more established carriers like Cathay Pacific Airways, Cathay Dragon and those with large local operations such as British Airways, the HNA Group-owned Hong Kong Express, does not have their own labour union.

Hong Kong Express passengers queuing at the check-in counter at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Hong Kong Express passengers queuing at the check-in counter at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
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The Post understands that “more than half” – around 100 to 200 – of the airline’s 370 Hong Kong cabin crew have agreed to join the Cabin Attendants Union (CAU), a catch-all group for smaller carriers and contractors without the resources or capacity to run their own independent union.

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