Union says Cathay Pacific has given them the cold shoulder

Vice-chairwoman of the Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union Amber Suen Tak-yin said on a radio program today that the management of Cathay Pacific has not yet responded to their demands up till today regarding their new contracts.

Suen said the management has failed to make the pay cut a temporary measure, and they have yet to promise not to fire those who opt not to sign the new contract.

A spokeswoman of Cathay Pacific yesterday said the company will still give a transitional allowance to staffers who sign new contracts by tomorrow, but the amount will be half of that for those who signed before last Wednesday.

Suen said the company is only offering few crumbs of kindness for the birds, without actually hearing their demands. She urged authorities to step in.

She said they will hold an emergency meeting with their members today, and will coordinate with Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association tomorrow to see what more they can do, but she admitted that industrial action is not feasible at the moment.