ferris ..... from the UAE I am sure all seems simple to you, considering you arent here seeing what QF is threatening (have already done) if we dont 'play ball' to a certain extent.
They have taken away our international flying from us with the A330, they can do the same with the 767.
They have stated that there is no agreement as to who will fly the A380 - they have made that clear too. It is common knowledge that it is cheaper to have short haul crew operate international sectors.
To focus a campaign on something like the Lhr base which is happening - and nothing will stop is daft, we should be focussing on trying to get assurances on things that might happen eg - forgoing the Lhr base fight in order to secure international routes for international crew - not fighting a lost cause!
Why do we have to go 'cap in hand to keep' what we have? Well we DONT have it anymore, the A330 international routes have gone to domestic, the A380 could just as easily go to domestic - Keep what we already have???? we have already lost it. We should be there trying to get it back !! Not focussing on (or putting down) crew who wish to go to Lhr for a couple of years. Nor fighting a base that is reality. We strike, we lose everything - the whole longhaul divsion will be nothing but a small percentage of crew operating only the B747. Again my opinion, but you seem to think we are begging for what we have, we have already lost it.