Letters | Cathay Pacific job cuts in Hong Kong have ruined public trust in airline

Name: Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific to axe 5,900 staff and immediately drop Dragon brand
Uploaded: 2020-11-12T22:30:20.000Z
Duration: 1 min 46 s
Description: Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific to axe 5,900 staff and immediately drop Dragon brand

Recent opinion poll shows the public taking a dim view of the airline’s behaviour, with 69 per cent of respondents saying it has treated employees badly

Cathay Pacific now needs to demonstrate inclusion, transparency and fairness towards employees, as faith alone will not repair the damage done

Reading Time:2 minutes

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Cathay Pacific staff leave the airline’s check-in counters at the Hong Kong International Airport on October 21. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Letters

Published: 6:30am, 13 Nov 2020Updated: 6:30am, 13 Nov 2020

Amid the numerous reports about Cathay Pacific’s restructuring, suggesting there was any kind of “willingness” among the staff (“Cathay management must keep the faith”, November 8) is simply not the case.

Pilots and flight attendants had no choice: sign and be forced into a grossly inferior and permanent new contract with no path to recovery, contrary to management’s temporary pay cut, or be fired.

I wonder how commentators supportive towards the Cathay Pacific restructuring would feel if they were presented with the same choice: accept a 58 per cent pay cut or be terminated.

I doubt they would be in favour, especially having had no input to their employment changes or even the courtesy of a warning.

01:46

Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific to axe 5,900 staff and immediately drop Dragon brand

Far from being understanding or approving of the restructuring, research commissioned by the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association shows just how much Hongkongers’ trust has plummeted in the airline.

The Ipsos research (based on an October 30-November 1 survey) shows trust in Cathay Pacific has plunged 63 per cent after the restructuring. It goes on to reveal 79 per cent believe making major contract changes with no consultation with employees is unfair; 69 per cent feel Cathay Pacific has treated employees badly; and 66 per cent feel more negative about Cathay Pacific. A vast 97 per cent say job security is important to creating a positive working environment. The airline has created the absolute opposite.

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.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Cathay Pacific job cuts in Hong Kong have ruined public trust in airline

Letters | Cathay Pacific job cuts in Hong Kong have ruined public trust in airline