After surviving massive lay-offs, remaining Cathay staff face dilemma over new contracts offering lower pay, fewer perks

Some long-time cabin crew members are mulling early retirement after being presented with new contracts that could cut pay by more than a third

Newer employees feel they have little choice but to accept given the state of the industry and economy amid the coronavirus pandemic

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Cathay Pacific cabin crew members who dodged recent lay-offs are now considering whether to accept much diminished pay packages. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 7:53pm, 22 Oct 2020Updated: 11:54pm, 22 Oct 2020

Even after surviving the axe, Cathay Pacific’s remaining cabin crew members aren’t out of the woods yet, with many left weighing their prospects against their job security as they consider whether to take new offers from the company on diminished terms.

The airline culled 8,500 positions on Wednesday in a massive cost-cutting effort aimed at riding out the coronavirus pandemic, which has all but stamped out air travel. Far from relieved, however, the airline’s remaining staff now find themselves in a dilemma with regards to new contract terms, under which cabin crew members across all levels face pay cuts of up to 36 per cent.

They have 14 days to make up their minds.

Several Cathay Pacific cabin crew members spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity because they remain in a vulnerable position as they have yet to sign on to the new contract terms.

At least five who have been with Cathay for more than 20 years said they were concerned that accepting the new terms would decrease the amount of their retirement bonus.

“What now? Do I leave or sign? Should I retire early instead?” one asked, wondering whether it was better to leave now and use her long-service payment to finally pay off her two-bedroom flat in Tung Chung.

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