Flight attendants refuse to smile

The Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, which is demanding a five per cent salary increase from Hong Kong's flagship carrier, said the “work-to-rule” measures could also throw flight schedules into chaos.

“We will be selective in providing our services,” union general secretary Tsang Kwok-fung told AFP, adding that the form and date of the action approved in Monday's vote is yet to be decided.

“This could include not smiling at passengers, not providing certain types of beverages – such as alcohol – or stop serving meals,” he said.

“In a nutshell it means passengers will still be able to reach their destinations except they are paying a five-star price to get a three-star service,” Mr Tsang said.

Work-to-rule is a form of industrial action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, sometimes adhering to safety or other regulations precisely in order to cause a slowdown.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/cathay-pacific-threatens-no-smile-no-booze-strike-over-salary-dispute/story-e6frfq80-1226534888956#ixzz2ElOkazzF