Cathay cabin crew threaten class action suit
Cathay Pacific cabin crew may file a class action suit against the airline later this month if they do not receive automatic annual pay rises, their union said last night.
Meanwhile, the Flight Attendants' Union is writing to Tung Chee-hwa seeking his help in mediating the labour dispute.
Union leaders said they were also separately seeking a court declaration that they have the right to receive the salary rise, which comes with every additional year of service or promotion.
They said a condition of service agreement signed by the union and Cathay in 1991 specified they would receive the 'increment pay rise', which was different from any other salary increase.
'If the court says they should pay us, I'm sure they will pay. They will not wait to be sued,' union chairwoman Becky Kwan Siu-wa said. But she added that if necessary, the union would file a lawsuit.
Cathay spokeswoman Quince Chong Wai-yan said: 'I believe what we're doing is lawful. If they pursue this, we'll leave it to our lawyer.' Union leaders last night urged members to ignore today's deadline to reply to the company's request that they work four more hours a month for a 3.5 per cent pay rise, work the current maximum of 72 hours per month and take a pay freeze or accept voluntary redundancy. The attendants say all options force them to forgo their incremental pay rise, which ranged from one per cent to four per cent.
To keep the 35-year practice of rewarding loyal staff, the union has offered to give up the 3.5 per cent rise and bonus and has offered to fly the extra hours free for a year.
'The company cannot unilaterally change our conditions of service without our consent. If we don't sign the letter, nothing should happen to us,' Ms Kwan said.
Union leaders said no industrial action would be taken to avoid hurting business.
But vice-chairwoman Espie Lajom said: 'That is not to say if anything happens to one of us, we will not stand up for each other.' Several flight attendants said yesterday they felt intimidated and demoralised by letters urging them to sign one of the options.
