The focus here is very much on the nitpicking of whether or not DUB pilots are getting the pay reduction. Which, in fact, is what management seek, as they seek to implement their "Programme for Continuous Improvement", which would see a large pay reduction for DUB pilots. Needless to say, the money they seek to take from us in DUB won't be paid to BFS pilots as it stands.
However, the bigger picture is of great importance. It's very simple, new, lower paid bases will eventually do DUB work, the DUB base will stagnate and will become the "overpaid" base, ripe for attack once again. So this situation is very much an attack on our T&Cs. Just because it isn't immediately obvious (well it is if you care to learn the lessons of corporate history) doesn't mean it won't happen.
The ryanair apologists can deny this scenario all they like, but it is exactly what happened to the DUB pilots in ryanair. Could it happen again? Of course.
It's quite simple, it's an open market and if FR or AL or any airline reduces T's and C's substantially, they won't get any relevant applicants applying for the positions.
The airline market doesn't work according to the classic economic models. Ryanair have demonstrated that they can get people regardless of T&C's. Little boys who want to fly will do anything until they realise after a few months that it's not quite what it cracked up to be. By then it's too late. In a career airline, not so much of a problem as people don't move on. In ryanair, big problem as on they go, to be replaced by more naive youngsters. So the experience level and conditions level stay on the floor. That's the competition, who don't value experience. By not standing up, AL will go the same way, dumbing down the profession across the board. Is that what is wanted?