Cathay "disappointed" over New Year strike threat
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Cathay Pacific Airways has said that the threat of disruptive action by the Flight Attendants Union (FAU) was “disappointing”, and that the union needs to explain to the Hong Kong public why they are threatening Chinese New year holiday plans.
The airline’s Director Corporate Affairs, Quince Chong, said the FAU’s disruptive tactics were causing “unnecessary stress and concern” among the travelling public.
Ms Chong said that Cathay Pacific has made its cabin crew a fair, reasonable and market-competitive offer of a 4.5% salary increase on top of a 13th-month payment and at least five weeks’ profit share for 2010. All staff in Hong Kong will receive a net increase of 4.5% for 2011 whether they are on a monthly paid master pay scale, hourly paid cabin crew or ground staff.
“We regret that the FAU has chosen such a tactic to threaten the travelling public. We are at a loss to understand the rationale behind their planned action,” Ms Chong said.
“We involved the union in many meetings on the year-end package and addressed a number of proposals they put forward. We remain open to discuss issues of mutual benefit to the crew community and the company at our regular meetings with the FAU, but our year-end pay arrangements were made clear to all staff at the end of November. We will not reopen talks and we need to move on.”
Ms Chong stressed that the year-end package needed to be “fair and reasonable” for everyone.
She reiterated that the company was confident its cabin crew would act professionally and responsibly. “We will do all we need to do to make sure Hong Kong people enjoy the Chinese New Year holidays they have booked with us,” Ms Chong said.
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