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Union chairwoman Carol Ng says it is discriminatory that most of the 100 flight attendants in the city have not received a pay rise in 18 years
The union representing Hong Kong-based British Airways cabin crew is threatening to take the airline to court in the UK if talks break down this month over union recognition and pay rises, as the group revealed that most crew members had not seen a raise since 1998.
Carol Ng Man-yee, general secretary of the BA Hong Kong International Cabin Crew Association, said the union was not bluffing about suing the airline for discrimination.
“We have already sought legal advice and there is a huge chance we will win. We are not afraid,” she said.
Ng said the last time the airline offered a raise to the 100-strong Hong Kong-based flight attendants was in 1998.
At present, half of the 100 crew members are permanent staff who make more than HK$30,000 a month after taking into account flying allowances. The other half are contract staff who are paid just HK$5,840 a month as a basic salary. They make about HK$20,000 after flying allowances are added.
Ng said the union had confronted the airline on the matter many times over the years. Last year, it demanded a raise of 7 per cent.
British Airways are locked in fierce negotiations with the union over wages. Photo: SCMP
“The management has been saying that our packages are too good. But their packages are good as well. Why are they getting raises?” she said. “They have also said that management has to review the cost of the base because the cost is so high.”
The union wants to sue the airline for discriminating against the Hong Kong-based crew because crew from other bases, including the UK, Japan and India, have had pay rises over the years.
When Ng walks into the negotiation room later this month, she will not be demanding a raise straight away. Instead, the union will press the airline to first recognise it.
With recognition, Ng said, her union would be in a position to negotiate future pay rises.
The union will also demand that the airline turn the 50 contract employees into permanent staff.
In response, a British Airways spokesman said: “We have carried out research that indicates that our cabin crew in Hong Kong receive a generous package that is above the market rate. Our permanent members of crew received an increase in pay earlier this year and are also entitled to a number of flying allowances the value of which has been increased over the years.”
But the union said only about 20 of the 100 Hong Kong-based crew have had a raise over the years. They are those who signed an agreement with the airline in 2003, giving their consent to raises based on performance.
In 2007, the union sued the airline in the UK for race and age discrimination in a dispute over the retirement age. The union eventually won.
(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST)
