Cathay Pacific layoffs | 35 years of Dragon Dragon entered history, former union chairman Shi Anna: as if Hong Kong lost its local flavor

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Written by: Chen Jiayi

2020-10-22 10:39

Last update date: 2020-10-22 10:39

Shi Anna, the former chairman of the Dragon Air Crew Association who wore a dark blue silk shirt, visited the rooftop of the trade union office where she had not set foot for a long time. She was forced to land with her feet on the ground last year.

Now that there are more planes parked on land than in the sky, Cathay Pacific is seriously injured.

Cathay Pacific announced a restructuring plan yesterday, reducing a total of about 8,500 positions. Cathay Dragon Airways ceased operations and the flying dragon disappeared in the sky.

Self-identified as "Dragon Dragon", she said that after Dragonair was acquired by Cathay Pacific, the humanized management model and human touch of understanding employees were erased, and the situation is as if Hong Kong lost its original strong characteristics.

It is a pity that Dragonair's operating days are short. It seems like a dynasty has fallen into history.

(Photo by Liang Pengwei)

Abandon Cathay Pacific and enter Hong Kong Dragon: Our image is young

After graduating from University, Shi Anna accompanied her friend to the flight attendant interview. The friend was not hired, and she became a flight attendant. "Shi Shizhong felt that being a crew (crew) has a sense of superiority, and she has always been a major." In the blink of an eye, it was 17 years. During the anti-amendment turmoil last year, she suspected that she was sacked by Dragonair because of her remarks on personal social platforms.

She joined the emerging Dragonair in 2002. At that time, she also had an employment notice from Cathay Pacific. "At that time, Dragonair was a very new airline. At that time, we could be regarded as a fierce competitor to Cathay Pacific. A lot of advertisements sell our image as a young crew member, and we are constantly adding new routes and expanding, and we invite a lot of people. Basically, during the same period, hundreds of people joined in the same two years, and the morale is good." Higher and more opportunities for promotion, she eventually chose to become a member of Dragonair.

Cathay Pacific acquires and implements

Although the rigorous training and the hard work of "flying to seizures" is not for outsiders, Shi Anna pointed out that Dragonair is small in scale and has a strong human touch, placing more emphasis on employees and passengers.

When Cathay Pacific supplied "piping water" to passengers on board, Dragonair insisted on providing water.

Cathay Pacific acquired Dragonair in 2006. Afterwards, the management was taken up by senior Cathay Pacific executives and managed with a large-scale corporate mindset. The quality of service has deteriorated.

When she worked at Dragonair, Dragonair opened a flight to and from Taipei. In less than an hour and a half, two hot meals and drinks were distributed, and duty-free goods were sold. She laughed at herself as a "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" competing with time.

The company that was once known as the "catch the dragon" is now streamlining its staff. It has already reduced its services and its meal rate is less than 100%.

Shi Anna described that Cathay Pacific’s management method is mechanical. It arranges outsourcing companies to select hotels for Dragonair’s employees, and adds disciplinary procedures. It is not inclined to discuss with employees in everything. "A lot of Cathay Pacific will always follow its original line. The policy and direction of the company are the first. Don’t change the style of returning to Dragonair just because of the acquisition of Dragonair. It’s up to us to adapt to the operation of this channel. At that time, we immediately felt that it was really not a favorite. Because it's a mistress."

A group of employees reluctantly moved out of the Dragon Tower, and moved to Cathay Pacific City to feel like a "second wife". Cathay Pacific employees believed that Dragonair employees had invaded the site.

Cathay Pacific manages Dragonair with a cold, experienced and high profile. Shi Anna feels a little unhappy, "Obviously we used to be my own side!" The company is no longer a friendly and negotiated place, focusing on reducing resources. She reflects that Cathay Pacific does not take it seriously. Employees do not value customers.

She recalled that Dragonair's value was hardworking and humane. When talking about the high pressure environment that made her sense of accomplishment, her face unexpectedly showed a proud expression, and a sense of belonging to the old Dragonair faintly flashed.

Cathay Pacific’s management and employees come from different nationalities, and she believes that China Dragon is the Hong Kong Airlines.

As soon as she joined Dragonair, Shi Anna joined the trade union, and when injustice was complained, she successively served as trade union director and chairman to speak for her colleagues, striving to extend the retirement age to 60 years old, but at the age of 39, she was suspended from serving in the air because of her speech. .

Under the epidemic, the global aviation industry was hit hard. Seeing that Cathay Pacific had been hurt by it, she was surprised: "Doesn't it really mean retribution? No retribution is too big." The voice did not fall and she was worried about her former colleague.

Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon had previously given up on applying for the second phase of the "Employment Protection" program. It was reported that they would be reorganized. There have been news of large-scale layoffs in the past few months. The company has not explained to the employees and caused panic. Some former colleagues envied her last year. Don't have to endure torture and be dragged by the uncertain situation.

She was surprised that the situation was unprecedented. In the past, after the union asked several times or signed a confidentiality agreement, the management would disclose the arrangement.

Shi Anna talked about the high pressure environment that made her sense of accomplishment, her face unexpectedly showed pride, and her sense of belonging to the old company faintly flashed.

(Photo by Liang Pengwei)

When Dragonair became Cathay Dragon, the characteristic culture and management model were erased, "it is gradually being overwhelmed by Dragonair." The situation is like Hong Kong being integrated into the Greater Bay Area.

Unfortunately, Dragonair's operating days are short, as if a dynasty has fallen into history.

Even though the market is full of dissatisfaction with Cathay Pacific, she said that if the company is willing to improve "like before," I believe Hong Kong people will give it a chance.

However, the company did not give her a chance last year. The last time she came to this rooftop was when she was dismissed for an interview. She found that the rooftop was much cleaner and well-organized. She stood upright beside Shibo and looked up at the sky. The autumn wind kept her blowing. Soothes long hair.

"Hang on to fly", this was what she said more than a year ago.

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