I'm afraid my career friend is right. To expect anything at the meeting is a little much. The reality is (le shock et horreur); management don't have to concede a thing and probably won't. We all know that conditioins ONLY change for the better (for the pilots I mean) when they have to. That will happen when;
a. People leave (won't happen until the world pilot market changes).
b. Some unfortunate event occurs that grabs the public eye (hopefully will never happen).
c. A new management bod comes along and brings in ideas from other airlines or from his previous job (never beneficial to the workforce that one).
Let's face it people. We really have to do what we're told. In other words 'put up or shut up'. It's a cruel reality and a sad one, because I really believe we could be a world beating airline. The press may think so, but ask any Engineer, Pilot or Cabin Crew and you'll get a different story. As Fish said, 'Good luck'