Threaten To Not Serve Alcohol Or Food, Or Even Smile Due To A Pay Dispute

Cathay Pacific flight attendants are feeling pretty grumpy about how negotiations are going between their union and the airline, and have voted to begin a labor action which may include flight delays and a cut back on the service for which the airline is noted.

The union has demanded a five percent pay raise for the FAs. The airline, which posted a $120.5 million loss in the first half of 2012 according to a report appearing on Fox News, offered two percent and a 13 month bonus.

That wasn't good enough for the flight attendants union, which has not revealed how the job action may proceed. Union General Secretary Tsang Kwok-fung said it might include withholding food and beverage service from passengers, which would require travelers to bring their own. Tsang said that the FAs might even stop smiling and greeting passengers. "We cannot smile because of the situation, because of how the company treats us," Tsang said.

One of the tactics under consideration is "working to rule," which means that the FAs would provide the very minimum work required, and following things like baggage restriction rules to the letter. Such an action could delay flights 20-30 minutes, the union leader said.

While a general strike is not out of the question, the union said it would happen only as a last resort, and not until after the first of the year. The airline, for its part, had reportedly taken out ads in Hong Kong newspapers on Thursday asserting that it has invited the union to return to the negotiating table, but has not had a response. Cathay Pacific COO Ivan Chu said at a news conference that the airline has a "contingency plan," but did not offer any details.

FMI: www.cathaypacific.com/us