Cathay Pacific has defended its decision to sack Rebecca Sy, the leader of a Cathay Dragon staff union, for allegedly voicing support for the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
In this story, she shares what she went through and vows she "won't stay silent" despite the political pressure.
Scroll down for the full script.
(Aired on ViuTVSix on 31 August 2019)
Full script:
(Soundbite, REBECCA SY)
“I never gave up on the company - but the company gave up on me. They gave up on their employees.”
Rebecca Sy, who was a Cathay flight attendant for 17 years, thought she was free to post her political views on social media when she was off work.
That is, until last week.
That was when she said her managers called her back to the airline’s headquarters, where they showed her printouts of three of her Facebook posts, before firing her.
“What? (I said)
‘But you have to have reasons for the termination.’
‘I’m sorry I can’t tell you the reason.’”
No disciplinary measures, no second chances.
“I really can’t believe it’s over so soon, 17 years. I’ve been at Cathay since induction and training. My friends worry about me. They say that I won’t find a job because I haven’t worked anywhere else, this is the same job since I graduated.”
Sy is the first casualty for Cathay Dragon, since a spate of dismissals and forced resignations in the aviation sector as the anti-extradition movement swells near the three-month mark.
She says many of her colleagues, some who hold different political views, are living in a climate of fear after what’s happened to her.
“Many colleagues started deactivating their Facebook, changing their account names, deleting their photos, posts, unfriending people on Facebook.”
Sy is also the chief of the 2,000-strong Cathay Dragon’s Airlines Flight Attendants’ Association.
Having supported colleagues in the past in employment disputes, she doesn’t believe it’s coincidence she was sacked.
“This is a very strong message, saying: ‘don’t think you’re protected just because you’re a union leader’.”
Cathay guidelines, which were revised two weeks ago, went as far as extending restrictions on employees’ “non-work social media usage.” That was after it received a set of directives from the Civil Aviation Administration of China on August 9.
Former CEO Rupert Hogg had said the firm will comply to safeguard Cathay’s operations on the mainland and routes that fly over Chinese airspace, which are “key to the airline’s business.”
Despite what she went through, Sy says she won’t stay silent.
“We’re at the point in our fight where we can’t lose. If we lose, everybody in Hong Kong loses. Hong Kong is an international city. In the past many years, we’ve enjoyed our freedom of speech. Why is there such a big step backwards now? Will this do Hong Kong any good?
The happiest thing I’ve had in this company are the friendships. The kind of care that colleagues have with one another. I’ve received messages from colleagues, saying ‘We are by your side. We won’t give up on you. Hongkongers won’t give up on you.’
So I’m not afraid, I’m not alone. I know many people support me. I won’t stay silent, and I’ll continue to speak out.”
Cathay has defended its decision to sack employees. Some have wondered whether this whole episode will drag down the brand and even the business of Hong Kong’s flag carrier.
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