Kaptain M, with regards to your last question, it all depends on the school of management your employer went to, and which country you are in.
It seems that CX management are taking the attitude that they are doing you (pilots) a thumping great favour by employing you in an increasingly competitive job market, and therefore they can dictate terms. After all, from their position they know far more about their money in/out situation than you do. (See recent comments from CX in the wires). Additionally, they represent investors without which you would not have aircraft to fly nor airports to fly to. A 100% attitude like this will not get them anywhere.
Then there is the pilot/employee attitude which says that we are the backbone of the company and doing everyone a service at our own expense. A 100% attitude will not get them anywhere either.
Obviously the great question is where to find a happy medium between the two. I do think Pilots (especially at CX) should be paid more - the steps taken at Delta are 'a good thing'. However, there must be a limit - and that won't be imposed by management, it'll be imposed by economics.
I know you and your colleagues take 300 lives in your hands - price $300 million as a result of AF4590 - but the passengers are simply not prepared to pay a level of fare that would even begin to pay you for that level of responsibility.
I posted what I thought was a very interesting article in the Economist on the R&N board - if you haven't, I encourage you to read it.
It's very much a case of 'where do we go from here?'