In fact LP, as much as 1989 was - without any shadow of a doubt - a milestone in Australian aviation industrial relations, it could in NO WAY be touted as a success for the airline companies involved.
Let's look at the FACTS:
Of all of the ORIGINAL pilots who entered the dispute ONLY 22% returned - the rest of those stole the slots necessary to get the two majors up and running were made up mainly of IMPORTS, eg. Canadians, Americans, British, New Zealanders, Jugoslav, Hungarian, French, and a few Australians who had either previously been unacceptable, or had left the airlines on a "golden handshake" (and blown their lot), or for medical reasons;
At this time, only ANSETT remains in her severely debilitated condition. There were four airlines that were around in 1989 that were involved, IPEC, EAST-WEST, AUSTRALIAN, and ANSETT. IPEC and East-West (an Ansett subsidiary that was sold off and then shut down), were the two "minor" players although they both operated jet equipment and had a niche in the freight and pax markets of Australiua. Australian (previously and most fondly remembered by its employees as TAA) was the Government owned domestic competitor of Ansett - the month-to-month pax loadings generally ran 50/50, with a split of usually no more than 3 or 4%....which was enough to spur the losing airline's employees into overdrive to try to achieve market domination. It was healthy, friendly competition!
The conditions that Ansett and Australian (TAA) were FORCED to offer returnees/new recruits, FAR exceeded those under which the current pilots were working - EXCEPT that new pilot employees would NOT be permitted to nominate the representative of his choice in any dealing with the company, and would unilaterally accept changes to his contract made at the compay's will!
Personally speaking, I would like Aussie pilots to do some DEEP research into the "befores" and "afters" of that fateful year, and see for themselves that the airlines did NOT enjoy a victory. Although almost 80% of the pilots never got to work back in Australia again, 3 out of 4 of the airlines involved went down the tube (Australian would have, had it not been absorbed by QANTAS)....and Ansett has been teetering on the brink for so long now, that perhaps the call of T...I...M....B.....E.....R might not be out of order!
For airlines such as Cathay, to base their "battle plan" on Australia 1989, is a folly that has been perpetuated groundlessly.