I don't think that the 4.8% pay increase is the sticking point in this pay deal. Most of the crew I have spoken to who have rejected the offer have done so because of the huge difference in the increase in trip pay between FSMs and Cabin Crew - 30% for FSMs and 9% (equating to roughly £2) for cabin crew. That is insulting.
As for saying that if we vote no to strike action we get nothing - that is not correct. I wanted this information clarifying and so emailed one of the senior management team and received this reply
"If the ballot for strike action returns a No vote then we will honour the last offer ( 4.8% and inflation in Year 2) If however a strike ballot gets a yes vote then we will have to withdraw that offer and reconsider what - if anything - can be afforded."
That makes it completely clear that if we do not vote for strike action we will still get the 4.8% as currently offered.