Unions in the dark: suddenness of Cathay’s staff cuts sparks calls for collective bargaining law to protect Hong Kong workers

Airline did not consult unions on restructuring, lay-offs, saying changes are vital to ensure survival

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Published: 8:00am, 4 Dec 2020Updated: 12:22pm, 10 May 2021

Veteran flight attendant Julian Yau Chi-hung did not get the chance to say goodbye to his Cathay Pacific colleagues in person when he lost his job in October after almost 23 years with the airline.

News of his fate arrived by email soon after the airline made a public announcement that it was axing 5,300 employees in Hong Kong and closing its Cathay Dragon brand in a restructuring to survive the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

After that round of mass retrenchments, the airline gave its remaining 8,000 flight attendants and 2,600 pilots 14 days to sign new contracts or have their services terminated. Angry staff described the new deals as insulting, with flight attendants’ wages cut by 20 to 40 per cent and for pilots, by 40 to 60 per cent.

“The saddest thing is that I really miss my colleagues and haven’t seen them for a long time because we haven’t been flying. We still haven’t had a chance to meet and say goodbye,” said Yau, 44, a former vice-chairman of the airline’s Flight Attendants Union.

The Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union slammed the airline for refusing to engage in year-end negotiations with staff. Photo: Edmond So

“Cathay’s decision is saddening and disappointing. What I am worried about is that other companies will follow suit and treat their staff the way the airline has treated us. If that happens, Hong Kong’s workers will be in big trouble.”

Hong Kong has an Employment Ordinance that provides for long service and severance payments and protection against unfair dismissal, but does not cover collective bargaining. It does not require employers to discuss important matters such as retrenchments with their workers or unions before going ahead to implement them.