As of June, Cathay and its subsidiaries employed more than 20,800 people worldwide, of whom around 17,000 are based in Hong Kong. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
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https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3204342/cabin-crew-union-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-threatens-work-rule-action-instead-festive-strike-if Hong Kong economy
Cabin crew union of Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific threatens ‘work-to-rule’ action instead of strike if demands for more rest time unmet
- The 3,000-strong Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union has said on Facebook it received unanimous backing from members in a meeting
- But the city’s flag carrier says flights will continue as scheduled and offers special allowances to staff working during festive holidays
Cathay has cut manpower amid the pandemic after global air traffic plunged. Photo: Sam Tsang
The cabin crew union of Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has urged members to only follow official working hours as part of a “work-to-rule” industrial action to win more rest time, after previously warning of a strike on Christmas or Lunar New Year if demands were not addressed.
In its latest statement on Friday, Cathay reassured customers that flights would continue as scheduled and cabin crew working during the festive holidays would receive special allowances.
The 3,000-strong Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union had earlier announced that members at a meeting had unanimously supported a decision to “shortly implement its plan of ‘work-to-rule’” industrial action.
“We hereby urge you to take real actions to support the union in fighting for what you deserve, for instance, sufficient layovers,” it said in a Facebook post to members on Thursday night, with an image bearing the words in English: “Don’t rush me.”
“If you’re not going to do this the easy way, we’ll have to do it the hard way,” the group added in a line aimed at Cathay management.
In an internal email seen by the Post, the union told members to remember its “golden rules”, which included “strictly” following company policies, rules and standards and ensuring the “work-to-rule” was enforced at all airports.
It also asked members to reject requests to work on their rest days and only fly when they felt “100 per cent fit”.
No consensus had been reached on setting a minimum layover period for ultra-long haul and long-haul flights, and ones to Australia and New Zealand, it said.
A senior union member said that around 90 members attended the meeting due to limitations on the number of people allowed to gather. Those who could not attend were able to vote by proxy, they added.
Cathay on Thursday night said it was disappointed by the union’s decision, calling it unreasonable, and said only a fraction of union members backed the industrial action.
Union representatives say Cathay’s cabin crew are underpaid. Photo: Sam Tsang
But the airline took a softer stance on Friday, telling the Post it would act upon the concerns raised by cabin crew and that it was grateful for their feedback.
“Cathay Pacific can assure our customers that our flight services will continue as scheduled and there is no need for concern,” it said.
The airline also promised to establish a focus group in January to make the roster system more transparent for employees, while special allowances would be given to staff working on Christmas, New Year’s Day and the Lunar New Year.
The decision to take industrial action followed a dispute of the rostering arrangement with airline management, with the union then complaining about an increase in the number of flights over recent months amid what it said was an inability by the company to replenish downsized manpower.
Union representatives have said that some crew members in extreme cases were assigned on same-day return flights for consecutive months, with their outstation allowances cut.
The basic monthly salary for newcomers had been reduced to HK$9,100 (US$1,167), they said, warning they would not rule out further action on Christmas or the Lunar New Year long weekend in late January.
To diffuse the tensions, Cathay said it had announced a 3.3 per cent pay rise beginning in January and an ex gratia payment equivalent to one month’s salary for all eligible Hong Kong-based employees, explaining that it was to “recognise their commitment and effort during these difficult times”.
Cathay has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with Hong Kong under one of the world’s toughest travel regimes for nearly three years.
The company shed a record 5,900 jobs in October 2020 as it axed regional airline Cathay Dragon, followed by a range of permanent and temporary staff cuts in the first half of 2021, which reduced the workforce by another 2,500 people.
As of June, Cathay and its subsidiaries employed more than 20,800 people worldwide, of whom around 17,000 are based in Hong Kong, according to its website.
Based on calculations by the Post, an average of 92 flights per day were scheduled to depart from Hong Kong between December 24 and January 6.
Seasonal airline traffic for the company is expected to peak on New Year’s Day when 107 flights are scheduled to depart from Hong Kong and another 104 will arrive in the city.
Additional reporting by Karin Lyu