HONG KONG – Several hundred Cathay Pacific flight attendants were camped inside Hong Kong’s airport on Tuesday after union members voted for industrial action to protest their treatment by the airline.

Union member Ada So said that about 400 cabin staff had gathered in front of the Cathay check-in desks.

She said more than 600 union members cast votes, with most in favour of taking action.

They are protesting a cut to some cabin crew allowances, pay discrepancies for junior staff renewing their contracts and loss of legal support for workers involved in court cases such as civil action stemming from a passenger assault.

The protesters plan to remain at the airport until the company responds to their demands. If it doesn’t, they’ll step up their action.

The airport said in a statement that it was “taking measures to minimize the effects of the union’s actions on airport operations.”

Spokespeople for Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s biggest airline, could not be reached for comment.