What is quite interesting is that all this talk of pass through to the airlines and CP3 etc is only relevant to NERL. NSL is run on a purely commercial basis, having to win contracts by signing agreements with other, external agencies, and having to sometimes compete with other companies. We have to pay for our trainees ( indeed seem to have to do most of the training on unit now!) , and have to have cost centres for absolutely everything. Actually the real answer is if the pensions were messed with would be for all staff to resign en-masse leaving a company in deep doodoo and a good store of staff for the rest of the world to poach (actually probably wouldn't happen that way but nice to dream).
Basically I work to retire, but I do enjoy my job, hate the crap from above and would love to move on but what other job could I do where I look out of the window for £55000?