In fact, I would suggest that King Kong asks a VERY valid question, when he says "Who won the 89 battle?"!
Of the FOUR airlines who entered the fray, only ONE remains today - and that is Ansett...today meaning as at the time of THIS posting - in another week, Ansett may not be around either!
How many PILOTS survived Australia 1989? ALL of those who had the luck, drive, and belief that THEY WOULD succeed. Unassisted by Rupert's "War Chest", and the corrupt Hawk government's funds, almost ALL of the '89 Australian pilots continued to earn a successful living for their families and themselves, from aviation - UNLIKE the FOUR antagonistic airline employers!!
Question answered! Australia 1989 was a DISA$A$TER for the airlines involved!
And as much as the originally employed pilots didn't get their jobs back, the medium to longer term results MORE than compensate for the short-sightedness of the greedy "have it all now " attitude of the scabs that manifested themselves, in spite of ample public warning!