Latest Cathay Concession 'not Attractive To Staff'

A Cathay Pacific staff union said that employees would not be interested in signing a new contract ahead of Wednesday's deadline despite the latest concession offered by the struggling carrier.

After sacking about 5,300 Hong Kong-based workers and axing its Cathay Dragon subsidiary last month, Cathay had offered new contracts to remaining staff, saying those who signed before last Wednesday would be given a "transition allowance" of several thousand dollars. In its latest move, the airline said it would offer half of that amount to those signing the contracts by Wednesday, or they would be terminated.

The vice-chairwoman of the Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, Amber Suen, said on Tuesday that the airline still has not responded to their other demands, such as postponing the deadline and not pushing ahead with permanent pay cuts.

She added that the latest allowance is not attractive to workers who have yet to accept the new contracts, which come with substantial cuts in pay and benefits.

"The reason why they haven't signed just yet is probably because they still have questions regarding the new conditions of service, or they simply don't want to, because the pay cut is so drastic they may not be able to afford a living. So it won't help much," she said.

The union will hold a general meeting with its members on Tuesday afternoon on the way forward.

It's also set up a meeting with the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers' Association on Wednesday to further discuss on how the two unions can work together.

The Legco manpower panel will hold a special meeting next Monday to discuss the situation at Cathay.

______________________________