CATHAY Pacific wants its pilots to fly longer for their cash, but pilots say they need more money just to live in Hong Kong. Each side is being drawn deeper into the bitter wrangle over million-dollar salaries and flying hours which spilled into the public arena last week. A furious row over basings - the home city where Cathay helps to foot pilots' accommodation bills - is already the subject of legal action and a new truce to mull over their differences is tainted by distrust on both sides. Pilots have commissioned newspaper advertisements to argue their case, withdrawing and re-running them after discovering their employer had acquired a copy and prepared a reply. Each side has pointed accusing fingers and muttered of lies, leaks and half-truths. As the two sides prepare to hammer out an agreement, Ruth Mathewson looks at the pay packets of Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 captains, and compares them with the wage slips of other big earners.
CATHAY PACIFIC BOEING-747 CAPTAIN $133,000 a month The flat annual salary of the captain is $1,726,316, including the standard 13th month bonus. A profit-share bonus was not paid last year. All Cathay's 400 captains, 476 first officers and the expatriate second-officers receive housing subsidies of up to $52,000 a month, which takes a captain's remuneration close to $2.5 million excluding other benefits. A jumbo skipper works an average 580 hours a year, which translates to 11 hours a week. Pilots say their stress levels soar during take-offs and landings, but auto-pilots take over for much of the flying time.
CATHAY PACIFIC and SWIRE CHAIRMAN $6-8m a year PETER SUTCH Peter Sutch collects a pay cheque big enough to cushion the living expenses of any taipan. Analysts estimate Mr Sutch's annual wage at $4 million to $5 million, bumped up further by a yearly bonus of $2 million to $3 million. Other benefits include an unlimited entertainment account, company share options and luxury housing. ''It's not a high-stress job,'' said a business guru.
CHIEF SECRETARY $156,300 a month ANSON CHAN FANG ON-SANG The Chief Secretary will have pocketed roughly $2 million after her first year in the Government's top chair. She also has an official residence, car and driver and expense account. Ms Chan is the most senior of the Governor's three principal advisers: the Chief Secretary, Attorney-General and Financial Secretary. She deputises for Governor Chris Patten during his holidays, represents the Government overseas and is responsible for formulating and implementing policies.
DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION $117,400 a month PETER LOK KUNG-NAM The Director of Civil Aviation pulls in a substantially smaller salary than the Cathay pilots who fly according to his policies. Mr Lok receives $1,408,800 a year and is responsible for the rules which ensure safety for the millions of passengers who travel to and from Hong Kong each year. He also gets government housing, pension and health benefits and works the standard 44-hour week.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY $147,800 SIR HAMISH MACLEOD Sir Hamish Macleod takes home $1,773,600 a year and lives at his official residence, a two-storey home at Shouson Hill. He works 51/2 days a week, beginning his day about 8.30 am and leaving the office about 7 pm. After 28 years with the Hong Kong Government, he now bears responsibility for the territory's financial and economic policies. He collects fringe benefits such as medical care, children's education and travel.