NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGSPORE
Cathay Pacific Airways pilots have given up more than three months of industrial action over a long-running dispute with the carrier over pay and rostering issues.
The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers' Association (HKAOA) suspended industrial action in the hope that this would lead to new talks with management. Cathay cautiously welcomed the announcement but made clear that it would not give in to union demands at future talks.
Cathay and the HKAOA, which represents most of the airline's 1,400-plus pilots, have not held talks since the end of June when the union rejected an improved pay and benefits package offered by the airline.
Pilots launched action in the form of a strict "work-to-rule" campaign on 3 July, causing widespread flight disruptions that month. Since early August operations have been stable, however.
The union had repeatedly said over the past three months that it wanted to return to negotiations but the airline refused, saying it would only do so if the union dropped its industrial action and withdrew any threats of further action. HKAOA president Capt Nigel Demery wrote in a letter to Cathay that "by suspending industrial action I believe we have now met your pre-condition for the resumption of negotiations". One of the union's pre-conditions for a settlement was the reinstatement of more than 50 pilots sacked soon after the action began.
Cathay says it welcomes the suspension of action but says that it is not willing to give in to HKAOA demands, in part because it unilaterally imposed improved contractual terms on pilots in August. The airline adds that the HKAOA "will need to have realistic expectations given the extremely difficult operating environment".
Source: Flight International
