I've read this thread, and listened to arguments on the aircraft and in crewrooms with much interest. I have to say that this is the most disorganised and ill-informed pay negotiation process I have ever seen! the fact that it has come to a ballot on industrial action, after the union has 'Strongly recommended' the deal, seems bizarre to me.
Scooby (and others), it seems to me that much of your argument with the company is based on rumours of other carriers' terms of employment and pay, rather than demonstrated facts. Where is your Union's spreadsheet showing you exactly where you stand in relation to other airlines, with verifiable data about those airlines' terms? I haven't seen or heard of one.
It's certainly true that Virgin's management has treated you guys with less than the respect you deserve, but it doesn't follow that a strike will achieve what you want. For a start, what do you want? Your Union doesn't appear to know! As far as they were concerned, they'd achieved as close as possible to what you told them you wanted as they thought they could - this time. Like the pilots' pay process, they were aware that Rome wasn't built in a day; it takes time and a plan (i.e. several pay deals) to achieve the uplift in pay and conditions that you are looking for. This was to be the first step in a long rosd - the pilots took 5 or 6 years to get from the equivalent of your situation now to a deal that more closely matches their position in the industry, and that was done with all the facts made available to everyone concerned - including the company.
Contrary to popular rumour, Virgin's pilots never threatened to strike. On their Union's recommendation, they rejected a number of company proposals. Once the Union was satisfied that the Company had moved as far as it could in each round of negotiations, the Union recommended the deal and the pilots accepted it - knowing that further improvements would be negotiated next time round. There is still some way to go in this process; it's far from over.
Where is the CC Union strategy now? What have they told you that they expect to achieve if you strike? It seems there is some unformed impression that 'something will happen' to magically improve the deal - but your Union agreed the deal, so there's nowhere left for them to negotiate!
It seems to me you would all be better served by rejecting the strike and taking the current offer, then replacing your Union negotiating team with one that communicates much more effectively with you, and takes your needs and wants more into account when they negotiate - and works to a long-term plan to achieve them. That kind of professional approach will result in more respect from the company, as well as being more likely to get you what you want.
This situation now is a mess, with no clear path to a resolution. You are poorly served with information and guidance, and you are heading, more or less leaderless, into a fight you almost certainly can't win. Back off now and regroup, with a better leadership and a better plan; no, sod it, any kind of a plan!
Good luck. I think you'll need it!