Interesting debate.
Does the answer rest with switching representation? I'm not sure.
Pilot Councils or AFAP or any other Pilot or worker representatives are only going to be as successful as the management want it to be. Southwest signed a ten year agreement with their Pilots because they had trust in each other. Unfortunately since '89, there has been a move towards a management that does not trust there staff, and not want to develop and foster a culture of moving forward together.
As the good Kaptain M said "The MOST profitable periods for the airlines, were when the employees were HAPPY doing their BEST...". This is partly true as this was a time when yield management was realistic and reflected a realistic price to travel. It is however proven where company staff are trusted and included in an open management style continue to go from strength to strength.
To claw back conditions does it mean a repeat of '89? Are Aussie Pilots prepared for this style of hard line approach?