What's the alternative
JTR - thanks for the PM - I remember;-)
OK lets look at the possible outcomes.
We vote YES.
Everything happens as expected. To the world and possible recruits they will see the harmony that exists between the employees and their paymasters! Some pilots will get up to double digit payrises. We no longer can refuse freighter flying, ASL move to the bottom of our seniority list. All officers can work to 65 on current terms - but no travel benefits after 55(that can amount to a months salary every year).
We vote NO.
The company may or may not recruit DEFOs on new contracts. It is almost certain they will recruit DEFOs but on what CoS/salary is open to conjecture.
They will offer (IMO) CoS08 contracts to all officers later this year. It will be voluntary. If you remain on CoS99 you will be entitled to receive bypass pay as long as you are HKG based. There may be a period of 4-18months where you can remain on CoS99 on the base and receive bypass pay - until onshoring occurs for your base area.
Payrises? Well, I think they will still apply them but that is purely my opinion since I have only seen them withhold one payrise - 1994 - even though almost every pay deal has been initially rejected. I would not base receiving more money on my opinion though;-/
The worldwide pool of recruitable pilots will be dismayed that we do not have excellent relations with CX and probably join anyway.
So really I can see good reasons to vote for and against the deal. My main issue is the disparity of bypass pay distribution dependant on domicile.
Pragmatic or idealistic, your choice.