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Danny Lee

Sijia Jiang

Cathay Pacific's flight attendants yesterday vowed to escalate their industrial action through the summer, as the union's deadline for talks with the airline runs out.
The Flight Attendants Union (FAU) said it was disappointed and accused management of neglect after negotiations over pay and benefits failed to materialise yesterday, despite chief executive Ivan Chu Kwok-leung saying the airline was ready to talk.
The union said its deadline of 10am today could pass without talks commencing.
As the government urged both sides to start negotiations, cabin crew continued their round-the-clock sit-in protest at Chek Lap Kok airport yesterday.
"An escalation - that will be the case [if the deadline is not met]," said union chairwoman Dora Lai Yuk-sim
"Mr Chu says he is willing to talk. It doesn't take a day to make negotiations happen if they are really sincere to resolve the issue."
READ MORE: Cathay Pacific cabin crew stage marathon sit-in at Hong Kong airport
Of 10,000 flight attendants employed by Cathay, 6,300 are unionised and have vowed to strike in August if demands over three key issues over pay, allowances and legal protection are not resolved.
The main dispute centres on crew who have finished their initial three-year contracts. Those signed permanently before April 2 get a pay rise from HK$144.70 to HK$176.80 per hour of flight, but those who signed after April 16 get HK$159.30. The union wants the higher HK$176.80 rate for all junior crew members.
Cathay Pacific management signalled yesterday it was willing to talk with protesting cabin crew members over pay demands following a mass sit-in at Chek Lap Kok airport on Tuesday night.
"We are ready to talk with the [Flight Attendants] union," Chu said.

The round-the-clock sit-in was launched by hundreds of attendants after 1,300 union members voted to take action.
When asked if he was concerned about disruption to passenger travel during the busy summer period, Chu said: "We are concerned our staff is not happy. We hope to sit down with the union as soon as possible.
"For our cabin crew who have served three years, we offer a second contract with a double-digit pay rise. We think that is very reasonable compared with the market."
The union also wants to reinstate a legal protection clause the airline deleted from its operational manual, which states it will "cover all legal costs resulting from an incident occurring whilst on duty". The union also wants lunch allowances for crews in Melbourne restored.
Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung urged both parties to keep talking, while his department closely monitored the situation.
"I have repeatedly called on both sides to exercise restraint. The most important thing is to maintain communication through direct dialogue to resolve their differences," he said.
"If necessary, the Labour Department will provide conciliation services."


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Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific cabin crew vow to escalate dispute amid Hong Kong airport sit-in

Cathay Pacific flight attendants continued their march and sit-in protest at Chek Lap Kok airport yesterday. The dispute revolves around pay, allowances and legal protection. Photo: Felix Wong

The sit-in is scheduled to continue until 10am on Thursday. Photo: Nora Tam

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Cathay Pacific flight attendants 'disappointed' talks with airline have not taken place and promise to escalate action if their deadline is not met


Cathay Pacific management has signalled it is willing to talk with protesting cabin crew members over pay demands following a mass sit-in that began at Chek Lap Kok airport yesterday.


Update | Cathay Pacific cabin crew vow to escalate dispute amid Hong Kong airport sit-in

Cathay Pacific flight attendants 'disappointed' talks with airline have not taken place and promise to escalate action if their deadline is not met