A former Cathay Pacific flight attendant's union membership had 'never crossed the mind' of an executive who dismissed her for breaching flight safety, a Labour Tribunal heard yesterday.
Aurora Saraza Camaclang, 45, a former cabin manager, was sacked by the airline five months after she failed to report to the pilot an incident in which five passengers had failed to board a flight from Dubai to Mumbai in September 1999, while their baggage had been put aboard.
She is suing Cathay for unfairly dismissing her in April last year because of her union membership.
Rick Lang, general manager (airport), said yesterday he made the decision to dismiss Ms Camaclang after management received a letter from her lawyer, airing her grievances and demanding withdrawal of a warning letter issued to her.
Mr Lang said the letter showed a change of mind by Ms Camaclang who at a previous meeting agreed she made a mistake and promised not to repeat it.
'It was clear that she was not taking responsibility for her actions . . . We lost confidence in her ability to be responsible for the welfare of passengers.
