Kaptain M, you've hit the nail on the head. All the Cathay Pilot's have done thus far is to work to their contract - nothing more. Anywhere else in the world it would have no consquence, a company would expect nothing less. You sign a contract, that is what you are contracted to perform.
The withdrawal of good will has shown this management for what it is, extremely poor planners and decision makers who put an inordinate trust in the good will of the work force to ensure the continued operation of a multi - billion dollar company.
The answer is obvious. Throw the union a bone, get back to the negotiating table and deal with the situation like honourable men. To get the good will back, to get the Airline back will require cooler heads to prevail on the management side. Dare I say, some of those heads will roll in order to clean this mess up.
In this game of poker losses are mounting on all sides.
TTYL