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Cathay Pacific crews threaten no-smile, no-booze strike

31 Comments

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© 2012 AFP

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31 Comments
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Going on the facts in the article alone, sorry to say that I am with the airline on this one.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

“In a nutshell it means passengers will still be able to reach their destinations, except they are paying a five-star price to get a three-star service”

Since when is no beer, no smiles and potentially no food "three star service"??

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Good to see some unions still have gumption. The leader of the organization ( which we jokingly refer to as a union )in my place does a perfect impression of a Toy Poodle wanting a choccy drop.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well, I'll certainly not give the FA a tip, then.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

demanding bonus and pay rise on a money losing business=unemployment for some in the next business year. Union leaders sure only think for themselves, not the company, not the employees.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I couldn't give a rats about the fake smiles that all airline staff give - but deprive me of my in-flight booze that I have paid a fortune for - then you have a hijack on your hands, Cathay!

5 ( +5 / -1 )

Union power has been eroded since the collapse of communism. Short-term contracts, worsening working conditions and an enormous growth in executive pay while wages for workers in many developed countries has actually fallen in real terms. I'll hopefully retire before our workplaces resemble sweatshops. Cathay - keep the flag flying people.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Union leaders sure only think for themselves, not the company, not the employees.

I've been reading for the past couple of years how multinationals have been earning record profits, are sitting on record piles of cash....while laying off, cutting or freezing their employees' wages (apart from the senior execs., who are receiving record compensation).

I think you need a reality check.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

“We will be selective in providing our services,” union general secretary Tsang Kwok-fung told AFP, adding that the form and date of the action approved in Monday’s vote is yet to be decided. “This could include not smiling at passengers, not providing certain types of beverages—such as alcohol—or stop serving meals,” he said

If it is the job of a flight attendant to provide friendly service and especially to provide alcoholic beverages or meals, how can they get away with selecting not to do it?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I've been reading for the past couple of years how multinationals have been earning record profits, are sitting on record piles of cash....while laying off, cutting or freezing their employees' wages (apart from the senior execs., who are receiving record compensation).

Unless Cathay Pacific is one of the companies you have been reading about, perhaps you need the reality check. How do people expect to keep working if there is no company to work for?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Air France did this last year (2011) on my flight from Paris to Tokyo... our main meal was a generic pile of fodder while the breakfast was a Pot Noodle type thing. Lovely.. 11 hours with a miserable bunch of cabin crew... so I can imagine what this will be like.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This won't make it off the ground!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Tbird, while your AF flight was miserable due to the crew, they're not to blame for the food, only serving it . That's AF food from the airline caterer. Bon Apetit!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No smiles or booze, eh? This would be unthinkable on ANA.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I dont mind if the stewardesses don't serve booze. As long as I can trundle back to the galley area and help myself, all is good. I can pour my own shots.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No (fake) smile is OK. But No alcohol should make me to cancel my future trips with Cathay! Note it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No (fake) smile is OK. But No alcohol should make me to cancel my future trips with Cathay! Note it.

good luck flying with Air Zimbabwe.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Guess I will stick to flying with UAL and ANA. Though on an ANA flight all they had was Budweiser and "Victory Gin". Think the latter could also be used as paint remover. Though the no smile is not a bother the no drink and food I paid for will cause you trouble!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Neither is a deterent to not fly with them, I don't drink, food is crap either way, and i prefer if they don't smile.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If they don't want to serve boozet, I suggest an open self serve bar for the passengers.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I need to deal with long flights as part of my routine and I can't sleep on a plane unless I've had a few. On a side note I'm perfectly fine with fake smiles. Either the flight attendant is genuinely happy with their job and feel the need to share that or they are being forced to act that way for my enjoyment, either way it makes me feel good.

But seriously, I'm not going on any flight longer than 2 hours without a fully stocked liquor cart bad enough they don't make planes for people my size but I have to be sober for it too? That's just cruel and I'll have none of it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ushosh123 sounds like you are a Southwest Airlines type of flyer! The UAL flight crews are just too nice for you. They do not want your business and sitting next to you would be unpleasant. Lucky for me I have no plans on flying to occupied Hong Kong. Just back and forth to Japan and maybe a trip to Australia. So really what would you do on a 15 hour flight with no food service, carry water? Am not insulting you but how do you get by in life?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Union people are so collectively intelligent. NOT. It's like they are all holding the gun together and preparing to shoot themselves in their collective foot.

...I know that unions are naturally distrustful of corporate employers, but when will they learn that the time to strike is NOT when a company is in the red. Union leaders are the only ones to gain by inciting this kind of idiotic behavior. The rest stand to lose their jobs. Yes, go for more money...just do it when the company is turning a profit for crying out loud!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yuri : none taken, just to clarify, I don't mean i don't drink liquids, just not liquor... and if it wasn't obvious, the stewardess's smile is the least of my concern in selecting flights, but whatever floats your boat. They are working to rule, not NOT working at all here. IMO, the constraints of being in an airplane just severely reduces the quality of the food but you are welcome to argue that point but they aren't reducing the quality of food here. If you're looking for a noisy neighbour then nope it wouldn't be pleasant just sit beside me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well now! Their service is now on par with most American carriers!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

ushosh123 have gotten dirty looks on some airlines. Being a women the Asian airlines tend to give me substandard service. The young women all want to flirt with young men. As for being chatty am not really, for most of the flight am asleep and if not sleeping than working on my notebook. I do agree with you these "professionals" need to do their jobs. Oddly enough I have found the US based carriers to have better more consistent service.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I still do not get how they think they can get away with not doing their job properly. It is rather like a waiter saying they will not wait on tables, but still expect to be paid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yuri, you must be smoking some good stuff back in the US, the American services in 99% of the airlines is crap compared to ANY Japanese airline! Ok, if you do not like cold sushi type bentos than you will be S.O.L. but other than that Japanese service on any Japanese airlines blows away the slobs that work for American, United, Delta etc...so I bet Cathay Pacific will pull through! Go UNION GO!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

but other than that Japanese service on any Japanese airlines blows away the slobs that work for American, United, Delta etc...so I bet Cathay Pacific will pull through! Go UNION GO!

Cathay Pacific is not a Japanese airline.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Oddly enough I have found the US based carriers to have better more consistent service.

I guess if you like being late, being made to wait forever for stuff and generally being treated like cattle in a cattle car.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Elbuda, I just have not seen too much difference. Am allergic to shellfish and am not fond of sashimi or sushi. The UAL people give the same service, The food is mostly the same on overseas flights. Did fly Emirates once to the middle east and the food was better though the seat was as hard as a bench. Maybe the difference it does not make a difference between seasoned flight attendants and young pretty ones.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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