Much truth in what you say about intimidation and it this does need action to resolve it sooner rather than later.
On the admissible reasons front though there are several which are not counted towards the three strikes....cant remember them all but the list is made up of surgery,broken bones etc. Really should start to file this stuff somewhere where I can find it!
Not saying the scheme is a good idea but we have at least two crew on our fleet who spend several days (at least) on the sick each month (normally weekends / nightstops.....even the sim if they dont feel like it).
I have been called in on standby for these two several times in the last 12 months and they are a liability. There will be no industrial action if these guys get the bullet thats for sure.
Note in 2002 the skipper in question had almost 100 days on the sick (none of it longer than one week...so no doctors note reqd).
The problem is, obviously, that they are going to use this process to try and intimidate the good guys. We will all be keeping a very close eye on this.