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Written by: Huang Weilun
2020-10-22 08:00
Last update date: 2020-10-22 08:00
Cathay Pacific Airways has been rumored to lay off workers for a long time. Yesterday (21st), it officially announced the reorganization plan, cutting 8,500 positions. 5,300 employees in Hong Kong lost their jobs. The 35-year-old "Cathay Dragon" entered history.
Cathay Pacific used to be the world’s best airline. Guan Xiaohua, who had served as a Cathay Pacific flight attendant for 36 years, looked back on the past and said bluntly that when he entered the industry in the 1970s, the flight attendant was a "preferred son of heaven". "It's better to be a pilot at any time"; and its image that advertises oriental culture has become a place where East and West blend, gradually becoming a symbol of Hong Kong.
However, the past can only be recalled. Guan Xiaohua criticized Cathay Pacific for not attaching importance to employees in recent years and continuously reducing costs. In addition to the decline in service quality, the sense of belonging of employees no longer exists. "Stick to play for a few years and leave"; and since anti-revision demonstrations last year , Even the original tolerance and freedom are lost.
Child car shuttle flight attendants to work
bright red uniforms eye-catching
Guan Xiaohua, who joined Cathay Pacific in 1975, has experienced the most glorious years of Cathay Pacific and also led the Cathay Pacific Air Services Staff Association, which is known as the "most beautiful union".
Looking back at the situation when she entered the industry, she said that traveling abroad was not popular, and that if the airline passengers were not rich, they were expensive. The society regarded Cathay Pacific flight attendants as "the pride of heaven and the noble profession." Her dazzling bright red uniforms "can be seen from 9 streets away." There is even a babysitter bus that picks up and drop off in Tsim Sha Tsui. The company does not allow public transportation such as buses. Employees who live on Hong Kong Island should not wear uniforms when they cross the sea by ferry.
Guan Xiaohua said that the flight attendant was a "dream job" and even a lifelong career for many people. She spent 36 years at Cathay Pacific and retired in 2011.
She recalled that Cathay Pacific had its most glorious days in the 1980s, when it launched long-distance flights to Europe one after another. At that time, Cathay Pacific’s success was to tolerate different cultures, blend Chinese and Western cultures, and was particularly oriental, such as the one from London to Hong Kong. On passenger planes, flight attendants wear long gowns to greet passengers, and they have gradually become a symbol of Hong Kong.
At that time, Hong Kong employees accounted for no more than 20% of the total. "7 people can have 7 nationalities", which is even more diverse.
In the 1980s, everyone spent three months at a five-star hotel
In 1986, Cathay Pacific officially went public, and the employees were paid more favorably. Guan Xiaohua recalled that each person could receive a bonus of about 3 months, the annual salary increase was double-digit, and they were often arranged to stay in five-star hotels. The station allowance is also increased according to the level of the hotel, "It is better to be a pilot at any time."
Looking back at Cathay Pacific, Guan Xiaohua always described it as his family, full of a sense of belonging to the company. Even if the union and the management sometimes blushed, they would not hurt their peace. "When a party is held on New Year's Eve, the management will be called." In fact, Although during her tenure as the chairman of the labor union, Guan Xiaohua initiated a labor wave many times, known as "the flight attendant grows hair", and even initiated a lawsuit on salary matters. In the end, Cathay Pacific lost the lawsuit and required compensation to employees of 350 million yuan; but when she retired, there were still senior executives hosting a banquet for her Organized a farewell party, and later gave a replica of the uniform she wore when she entered the industry.
Zeng Rong can afford "Stewardess with long hair", but last year fired on Hong Kong Dragon Trade Union Chairman Shi Anna
However, the past can only be recalled. Guan Xiaohua believes that Cathay Pacific has deteriorated and its service quality has declined.
In terms of resources, she criticized Cathay Pacific for "shrinking" frequently. In 1997, it introduced an hourly salary system for flight attendants. By 2003, SARS had continuously lowered the starting salary for entry, and the food standard had deteriorated, and it was not as good as before. The souvenirs describe Cathay Pacific’s constant "fat and thin".
She continued that Cathay Pacific does not attach importance to qualified employees, and the treatment is far less than that of the previous year. Even if it attracted young and promising employees before, many people think that "there is no way out for a successful flight attendant because of the uncertain industry prospects." The mentality is to "leave after playing for a few years", without a sense of belonging, and is no longer the "favorite of heaven" back then.
On the other hand, Cathay Pacific was able to accommodate "air attendants with long hair," but last year the group could not accommodate it. Shi Anna, then chairman of the Dragon Air Crew Association who was suspicious of political opinions on social platforms.
Guan Xiaohua pointed out that in the past, Cathay Pacific only stated that it would avoid bringing sensitive topics on passenger planes. When the Occupy Movement in 2014, some employees went directly to the occupied area after finishing work. He believed that the company maintained political neutrality at that time and could also accommodate employees.
However, under the anti-revision demonstration, she said that employees expressing political opinions privately also need to worry about settling accounts after the fall. "No one is daring enough to talk about it." She described Cathay Pacific as "only favoring the mainland." It is no longer the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. Power airline.
SARS allows some people to stay for two years without pay for further studies
Before Cathay Pacific officially announced the layoffs, Guan Xiaohua said that management should discuss any plan with the labor union to avoid layoffs. He recalled that during the SARS period, there was no need to lay off employees at all. Employees could choose to take long unpaid leave and some people stopped. Stay for two years with salary and go to study.
After Cathay Pacific announced the layoffs, she described it as "so miserable and awkward", but Cathay had already "blowed" and the society was mentally prepared, and as a result, there were fewer criticisms. On the contrary, the "surviving" employees have lost their bargaining power and can only afford it. .
She criticized the government's earlier subsidy as a disguised form of Cathay Pacific paying severance pay to employees, describing it as "eating and carrying", and believed that the epidemic will always pass. "Cathay Pacific will be the biggest winner after the epidemic."
After a series of incidents, can Cathay Pacific still represent Hong Kong?
Guan Xiaohua lamented that after accumulating problems, such as not attaching importance to good employees, he was convicted last year with words, "I have no idea, I have given up (Cathay Pacific), everyone has given up."
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