Cathay Standing Firm On Contract Deadline: Union

A meeting between the Labour Department, Cathay Pacific and the flag carrier's flight attendants union on Wednesday morning failed to resolve a dispute over a looming deadline for staff to sign new contracts, but government officials were quoted as asking the airline to consider the "many things" it could do to ease concerns.

Cathay Pacific staff have been told that to avoid being sacked, they must sign new contracts by the end of Wednesday that will permanently slash their salaries and benefits.

The Cathay Pacific Flight Attendants Union had been demanding that the carrier make the pay cuts temporary, give staff until November 21 to consider the new terms, and provide redundancy packages for those who decide not to sign the new contracts.

But speaking to reporters after the tripartite meeting, the union's vice chairwoman Amber Suen said Cathay stood firm against their requests.

"They have demonstrated no sincerity in answering or extending the deadline or to make it a temporary contract," she said.

Suen said a new proposal was tabled to Cathay during the meeting, which included an annual review of the contracts with union representatives.

The union's chairwoman, Zuki Wong, said the Labour Department mediated the meeting by making clear that both sides' demands – Cathay wanting staff to sign the new contracts quickly, and the union wanting more time for members to think things through – were not mutually exclusive.

"[It] asked the company to seriously consider the many things it can do," Wong said.

"[The Labour Department] also wants the company to loosen [its stance] a bit for us."

The meeting took place a day after the cabin crew union received members' approval to take legal action against the carrier over the new contract arrangements.

"Because the company still considers those who don't sign the new contract as being terminated, we will proceed and we will consult further legal [opinion] and decide accordingly," Suen said.