Leaders of the Airport Trade Unions call for a pay rise of 7 percent for all front-line airport staff at a press conference Thursday. The statement came two days after Cathay Pacific Airways decided to raise the wages of its employees by an average of 4 to 4.5 percent. Fu Lei / China Daily

Seven trade unions accounting for a large proportion of employees at Hong Kong International Airport are pressing demands for a 7-percent pay rise for all "front-line staff working at the airport."

The call came Thursday, at a joint press conference of unions representing 7,000 airport employees in the ramp, cargo and catering services. The workers' demand comes two days after an announcement by Cathay Pacific Airways that it will raise the wages of its 13,000 employees by an average of 4 to 4.5 percent next year.

"The 7 percent is based on Hong Kong's economic growth and its inflation rate this year, as well as the long-lasting underpaid situation of airport employees," said Cheung Shu-wang, chairman of the Staff and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines.

The airport saw a year-on-year surge of 12 percent in passenger traffic and 16 percent in cargo last month. Both cargo tonnage and aircraft movements hit monthly high.

Leaders of the trade unions lashed at their employers, calling them stingy after the airport's recovery from two previous crises, the financial crisis of the late 1990s and the SARS outbreak of 2003.

The employers include Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL), Hong Kong Airport Services (HAS) and Jardine Aviation Services.

The monthly income of a newly enrolled cargo terminal operator is about HK$7,000. A skilled driver receives about HK$8,000 per month, according to a union press release.

480 of 500 newly hired employees at one aircraft ground handler resigned in September, Li Wing-foo, deputy chairman of Hong Kong Airport Ramp Services Employees Union, told the press conference.

Besides the pay rise, the seven trade unions asked for increased traffic allowances, 13 months of annual salaries and a "moderate" bonus at the end of year. The unions also want new recruitment to ease the burden on current staff.

The demands, put forward as a joint proposition, have already been met by some companies.

Jennifer Lam, a spokeswoman for the HACTL, said the company had rewarded all its "front-line" employees with an extra month's pay at the lunar festival of 2010.

Lau Kee-lung, chairman of the company's trade union, whose organization also joined in the demand, confirmed that employees had received the payment.

The regulating Airport Authority responded to the trade unions' demand in a written reply that it "encourages more communication between the 60,000 employees and 200 employing bodies at the airport, in order to achieve a harmonious relationship between the two sides."

Felix Yip, president of Hong Kong People Management Association, said 7 percent was "too much", expecting the final result at 4 percent.

"The 7 percent is somewhat unrealistic, placing pressure that a number of corporations cannot afford," said Yip.

"The other three requirements are more of a negotiation tool to bolster the demand for the pay rise. It is also a routine for airport workers across the world to raise demands when the end-of-year peak season arrives," he said.

China Daily

(HK Edition 11/19/2010 page1)