A proposed wage increase package by Cathay Pacific (CX) has been accepted in principle by the airline’s pilots union, signalling an end to ongoing industrial action.
A CX spokesperson confirmed to Business Traveller Asia-Pacific that “a tentative agreement on 2015 pay has been signed by the negotiating committees of the company and Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA)”.
The spokesperson added that the tentative agreement “will now be taken forward for relevant ratification processes”.
CX declined to reveal specifics of the agreement, or to confirm a report in the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that the increase would include a 4.5 per cent rise this year and 3.5 per cent next year. CX’s original offer was for an increase of three per cent for this year and next year.
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The SCMP reported that it had received a copy of the contract document offered to pilots.
As we reported back in December 2014 (see here), 92 per cent of the HKAOA voted to initiate work-to-rule action when a resolution over the pay dispute was not reached.
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One pilot who was not named told the SCMP that the action had resulted in numerous delays and cancellations for high-profile routes, including those to New York and London.
Should an agreement be realised, CX will still need to turn its focus to its cabin crew union (see here), which has also threatened industrial action over contractual disputes.
For more information, visit cathaypacific.com
Clement Huang
