Cathay pilots union tells Hong Kong-based members not to sign new pay-slashing contracts

Posted to SCMP (23/10/2020) on 23/10/2020
Commenting on “Cathay pilots union tells Hong Kong-based members not to sign new pay-slashing contracts” https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3106702/cathay-pilots-union-tells-hong-kong-based-members

Do not make the same mistake like the Australian domestic pilots that went on strike for pay rise back in 1989. All the pilots were the losers and the Union was decimated.

Back then, Australian domestic airlines were a duopoly.

The strike went on for months, costing over a billion Australian dollars. During the dispute the government called a national emergency and deployed armed forces and planes to fly commercial routes. Hundreds of scab pilots from overseas had their visas fast tracked, and their wages paid by the government in an attempt to undermine the union’s campaign.

In September, the pilots offered to return to work keeping all previous awards and conditions, but the employers turned down the offer. Instead, new contracts were drawn up which removed many rights and protections, and reduced working conditions. During good times, Cathy staff were treated very well. It is time to reciprocate to get the company stay afloat. Without the company, there is no employment, and therefore no pilots will be required. Thank you for reading.

Cathay pilots union tells Hong Kong-based members not to sign new pay-slashing contracts

After surviving massive lay-offs, remaining Cathay staff face dilemma over new contracts offering lower pay, fewer perks

Posted to SCMP (22/10/2020) on 23/10/2020
Commenting on "After surviving massive lay-offs, remaining Cathay staff face dilemma over new contracts offering lower pay, fewer perks" https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3106693/after-surviving-massive-lay-offs-remaining-cathay-staff

This pandemic is like no other recessions and financial crises. Not only does it create a great deal of physical and psychological health problems, but also affects free movement between countries, resulting in the demise of the aviation industry. Unfortunately, the sharp rise in unemployment is worldwide, and so be wise and hang on to your job.

Those being targeted for retrenchment, or asked to sign a much less attractive contractual package, are likely go through the same stages of grief experienced by people who have lost someone dear to them.

There are five stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Different people deal with their situations differently. This is not the time for contemplation, because time waits for no one. It is important to get their spirits up, get back on track, and move on. Should one sign a contract even though the pay cut is painful and conditions reduced? They should thank their lucky star if chosen. Unless one is near retiring age, and wants to retire sooner than later, hesitation only clouds one's decision.

There is a Chinese saying, "ride a cow, find a horse". It is always easier to apply for an internal or external position if one is in employment.

As for long term consideration, those remain in the company will be at the best seat to get promotion when flying returns to normality.

Thank you for reading.

After surviving massive lay-offs, remaining Cathay staff face dilemma over new contracts offering lower pay, fewer perks

Women’s rights: why Singapore wants to change the way we think about gender equality

Posted to SCMP (17/10/2020) on 19/10/2020
Commenting on "Women’s rights: why Singapore wants to change the way we think about gender equality"
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3105675/womens-rights-why-singapore-wants-change-way-we-think-about

Motivation comes from within, and therefore it is important for women to change their mindset for gender equality to work. This means women must have the Can Do attitude first, and pursue their dreams.

I never believe in a quota system, whether it is in a private or public organisation. Neither should this happen in the parliament nor the High Court. Put it simply, it is about meritocracy.

There were tokenistic women movements for years, songs sung and books written promoting the image of women, and empowering the women to fight for their rights. Fight is not a good choice of word because it has a connotation of confrontation, which causes barriers to be put up, creates resistance and separates both genders further. No one likes losing, and loser will think of a way to bring the winner down.

Successful women are not just those glamorous images portrayed in the glossy magazine, or those dressed up like men in suits, They can be experts underneath the cars fixing and tuning them to run like a charm. They may be those in hard hat at construction site or graphic artists producing computer games or animating games.

Given the right training, many women from a food court cooking in the kitchen can be just as successful and entrepreneurial to expand from a single store to become franchisors.

Thank you for reading.

Women’s rights: why Singapore wants to change the way we think about gender equality

Hopes of city retail reopening look dashed as Premier preaches caution

Posted to The Age (11/10/2020) on 11/10/2020 (not published by the newspaper)
Commenting on "Hopes of city retail reopening look dashed as Premier preaches caution"
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria-records-12-new-covid-cases-and-one-death-as-premier-urges-melburnians-not-to-lose-hope-20201011-p563xh.html

The opposition leader, medical professionals, and ordinary public have been complaining about and knocking the lockdown and the 5-km limit travel, and yet I have not heard or read anything constructive from all these people. How will they handle the situation and the anti-lockdown and anti-mask protesters?

What should be the travelling distant limit be? It is likely that no matter what the limit is, the whinging public will still have the “give an inch and they’ll take a mile” mentality.

Looking abroad, UK, Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, etc, some previous COVID-19 epicentres, are once again experiencing big rise in daily infection cases, rendering shortage of hospital beds for the treating the serious cases. Even Malaysia statistics is horrifying during the past week, with Sabah, Kedah and Selangor as new epicentres.

I am not defending Daniel Andrews’ tough stance. No one likes to stand at the podium delivering only bad news day after day. If only some minority take heed of the warning of the deadly virus, and “obey” the rules rather than flouting them, Kilmore would not have fallen victim, and the manager of Butcher Club would not have to spend time in ICU.

Thank you for reading.

Hopes of city retail reopening look dashed as Premier preaches caution

Britain may boycott Beijing Winter Olympics over Xinjiang abuses

Posted to The Age (7/10/202) on 7/10/2020 (not published by newspaper)
Commenting on “Britain may boycott Beijing Winter Olympics over Xinjiang abuses”
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/britain-may-boycott-beijing-winter-olympics-over-xinjiang-abuses-says-raab-20201007-p562n8.html

The satellite photo of the the Xinjiang detention camp taken in September 2020 looks like any industrial park taken from above during a weekend. It has no trucks, no cars, no human and no sign of life.

I believe many people can still recall the satellite photo of the location where Saddam Hussein was alleged to manufacture weapons of mass destruction WMD. It was a witch hunt that led to the mass destruction of the Iraq by the accusers!

Should leaders of countries be so naive to repeat another mistake by not investigating and scrutinising thoroughly before jumping into the bandwagon and creating suspicion and conflicts that might lead to unnecessary bloodshed?

UK is benefiting enormously from big increase in student enrolment from China, due to diplomatic tension created by the US and Australia with China. By boycotting the Winter Olympics in 2022, the international education industry in UK will suffer the same fate like the US and Australia in due course. History tells us that it will not hurt China a bit, but only those athletes who train so hard for the occasion.

Four decades since the boycott of Moscow Summer Olympics, most international sports officials and many political leaders have fought to discourage Olympic boycotts, arguing they merely sacrifice an athlete’s right to compete and make a living, and don’t lead to changes in policy.

Thank you for reading.

Britain may boycott Beijing Winter Olympics over Xinjiang abuses