Cathay Pacific pilots continue industrial action over rostering
At 10 months, the work-to-rule is already Cathay Pacific's longest industrial action, amid stalled talks to revive a pact with management
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 20 September, 2015, 3:25am
UPDATED : Sunday, 20 September, 2015, 3:25am
Danny Lee and Phila Siu
Cathay Pacific pilots' industrial action in its 10 months is already the longest in the airline's history. Photo: Felix Wong
Cathay Pacific pilots will continue their industrial action - at 10 months already the longest in the airline's history - amid stalled talks to revive a pact with management that specifies their maximum flying hours and cockpit staffing levels.
Relations are at rock bottom as their contract compliance action, started in December, brings out mistrust between Hong Kong's largest carrier and the pilots' union, the Aircrew Officers Association, which represents 2,100 of Cathay's 2,900 pilots.
Pilots taking part in the action work to the letter of their contracts and do not show up for work on scheduled days off.
At issue in the latest war of words is the airline's termination of a rostering practices agreement that cockpit crew fear would spell fatigue and endanger flight safety, although management insists it has been willing to discuss rostering issues.
"Our negotiating teams make efforts to work closely with the unions in relation to a number of matters, including rostering," a Cathay spokeswoman said.
The pilots' action began mainly over pay rises. Although that row was resolved in June, most of them voted to continue with contract compliance after the management dropped a bombshell that same month it would end the agreement, which eventually it did last month.
A week after the plug was pulled on the pact, senior pilots issued safety warnings about rostering leading to fatigued cockpit crew. A union source said the association would not accept a revised rostering policy that reduced pilot numbers on long-haul flights. Cathay blamed the union for failing to step up to the negotiating table.
"Following termination of the agreement, it has been made clear to the unions that the door is open for further discussions relating to rosters with the view to reaching an agreement," the spokeswoman said. "To date, there has been no request by the [association] to meet to discuss rostering practices."
She said three days of talks were scheduled for early next month, but the association had made no request to put rostering practices on the agenda.
Association members cast doubt on the management's willingness to talk. Chris Beebe, general secretary of the association, said: "There have been no discussions on rostering practices and no indication that the [management] is prepared to engage on a new rostering practices agreement. As a result, the contract compliance over rostering will continue."
The union negotiation source said the open door on offer from Cathay applied only if the pilots were prepared to accept their employer's "imposed rostering policy, with the addition of further degradations to our manning levels practice".
He added: "It would be disingenuous of the company to suggest that they have provided an open door. Imposing a far worse unilaterally amendable policy is far from the most productive manner in which to engage with your pilot body, yet that was the extent to which the company was prepared to venture in achieving new rostering practices."
The pilots' last work-to-rule, lasting three months in 2001, led to the sacking of 49 cockpit crew members in one day.
