CATHAY Pacific management has offered to increase their pay offer to one of their two unions to resolve a dispute - but only if the union trades something in return. Efforts to reach an agreement over pay have taken four months without a solution for both the Flight Attendants' Union (FAU) and the Aircrew Officers' Association (AOA). Since January 1, the FAU has been drawing a wage which includes the management's initial pay offer of five per cent, plus a $150 monthly lump sum and a pay-related increment, despite not having accepted the deal. Any deal negotiated higher than the original offer would be backdated. But after four months of sporadic negotiations, the chances of a better pay offer appeared to be petering out. Now Cathay has said it would be prepared to raise its offer, but only if the flight attendants increase productivity - effectively working more hours or giving up guaranteed rest days. Spokesman Phil Burfurd said the company would want improved productivity as part of any higher offer. He said that with four months having elapsed without a deal being struck, it was beginning to look as if the original offer had been tacitly accepted by the FAU. The AOA, which represents pilots and flight engineers, has also failed to reach an agreement and is drawing last year's wage.