Perhaps someone more 'in the know' with regards to this topic could clarify, but I was of the understanding that these 787 Options were at such a good discount to List Prices the Qantas couldn't afford to NOT take them.
If that is the case, surely there were a few other options here that would have been more financially viable for the Group than letting the Option lapse, like perhaps, taking the frame and leasing it to another operator, or sending it to JQ (or haven't they proven the aircrafts 'worth' yet either?).
I'm fairly sure of one thing, if it is part of more of this childish IR rubbish, it is a waste of time. Most QF and JQ pilots are seemingly used to this kind of nonsense and no-one seems threatened by it anymore. We are all well aware of the looming Pilot shortage, and the difficulty in crewing the lower Paid subsidiaries for the birdseed they offer, and only a massive downturn is going to have any real effect on how individuals will approach the looming QF SH/LH and JQ EA negotiations this year.
All its going to achieve is increasing the risk of the next financial downturn coming around, and QF once again, stuck trying to manage through it with an inefficient, out of date fleet.