In this turbulent time for Cathay Pacific and its pilots, I have been amazed by the reaction of the media, the public, politicians and businessmen. Broad statements and untruths spread like wildfire.
The public's general perception of pilots is usually based on some stereotypical idea of us.
I have friends who think that I just live it up on days off. I get the same days off as any office worker in Hong Kong and yet I also do shift work. So my days off are usually spent recovering from jet lag, or the fatigue-producing rosters that Cathay says are safe.
Pilots are accused of again demanding money, and it is argued that public servants and the like will only get two to four per cent increases this year. Have those same people experienced a 27 per cent pay cut over the last three years? I think not. It is not entirely true that pilots are asking for a 32 per cent pay rise, but even if it was, 32 per cent minus 27 per cent is a pay rise of just five per cent over three years. This is hardly excessive.
Over the last eight years, Cathay management have been responsible for our deteriorating conditions. The Aircrew Officers' Association has been trying to negotiate in good faith, for more than two years, but Cathay management just ignore us.
I believe that pilots are an easy target for the general public to vilify, however, this is not a popularity contest. We know we are right and will fight for our conditions.