I don't think the BA Pilots will go on strike.
I don't think WW will rob the Pilots pensions.
What he will do though is ask for THE WORLD in working condition changes, allowances "restructuring", SCOPE agreements etc etc, in a nasty, protracted, and ugly scrap.
He is playing a tried and trusted game of hardball and the pilots will eventually give him HALF the WORLD (what he really only wants) in order to prevent BA meltdown. Classic WW tactic.
The senior guys want their full pension guarranteed and will only have 10 years or so left of poor working conditions. (besides they are senior enough anyway to avoid the crap)
The scared junior guys are on a new pension scheme anyway, won't be happy at all about the working condition changes, and will probably vote to shaft the senior guys. They won't shaft themselves or go out on strike to protect the pension of those who shafted them with the terrible new pension scheme. The ones who are in a lose/lose scenario are those in the middle of the seniority list.
The Pilots will be split 49/51 and give WW what he really wants, the optimum result for BA. Unprecendented massive cost / crewing savings to bring you in line with your main future competitors Emirates, Virgin, Etihad, BMI, Qatar, Kingfisher etc. WW will divide and conquer the BA Pilots and make them PAY through working condition changes for the pension that SOME of them are already owed!!!!
Do you think all those 777-300ER's will come with crew rest facilities etc???
Do you think you'll still be flying with Heavy crews? Decent time off downroute, nice hotels, allowances etc etc, speak to any Emirates crew and you'll soon get an idea of what can be changed!!
He's done it before and he'll do it again. He knows Pilots, he is a Pilot. He'll stop at nothing. The only answer?? 100% complete Pilot unity, but I think the damage may already have been done.
