Correct , Cutest_of_Borg.
Let us critically look at some of the differences between what is occuring now and what happened back in '89.
Back in '89 pilots were asking for appx 30% pay rise as an opening gambit claim expecting to haggle back to somewhere around 15% or so ,pay rise in order to claw back what was believed to be some sort of wage parity/catch up.
This time what are they asking for ? CPI with productivity increases! How obscene!
Let me also add ,since privatisation of Qantas back in 1992 the only pay rises Qantas pilots have had, has been the equivalent to CPI over the same time frame.
As far as management mopping the floor with the pilots by portraying them as greedy ,overpaid ,underworked ,tall poppies worthy of cutting down to size ,we shall see. Should not be too hard to paint the obscene largesse of present day management as being nothing more than a Gordon Gekko inspired auction to see who can out bid the other to claim the mantle of "The Millionaires Club " off Macquarie Bank.
Also ,this time around ,the pilots have aligned themselves with the ACTU.
Should not be too hard to work out that when the starter's pistol for the Federal election is fired,the ACTU will be a valuable ally to have during the campaign to discredit John Howard and his WorkChoice legislation.
