Posted on: Thursday, June 28, 2001

Cathay pilots urged to settle

Associated Press

HONG KONG — Stepping up pressure on pilots not to disrupt travel through the city, Hong Kong's leader has urged the local aircrew union to settle a labor dispute with Cathay Pacific Airways.

Pilots were expected to respond today through the Labor Department to a new proposal by Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific's management on pay and benefits. The airline has sought to set a deadline of midnight today for Labor Department-mediated talks.

The airline says it needs time to prepare contingency plans if its 1,200 pilots carry out threatened labor action beginning Sunday. John Findlay, general secretary of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, said the pilots hoped to continue talks through Saturday.

Hong Kong's top official, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, contending that Cathay Pacific pilots are among the highest paid in the world, urged the union to reach an agreement with management.

"I think such disputes are not good for Hong Kong's economy and not good for our tourism industry," Tung told reporters late yesterday. "I hope very much the overall interest of Hong Kong is being looked after."

Cathay Pacific says the pilots are demanding pay increases of up to 32 percent, far above the maximum 9 percent the carrier has offered.

The pilots have complained that they are treated differently based on where or when they were hired.

They also claim that because of opaque scheduling practices, they often do not know until showing up for work where they will fly or when they will return. They say constant scheduling changes contribute to pilot fatigue.