jbflyer there has not been any reduction in pilot flying hours contracted in the last 10 years. In fact, it has increased from 650 to 750 hours - though that was a very long time ago. What has happened is that rostering and utilisation of pilots has changed to increase the average hours flown (ie productivity) by some 25%, and much closer to that 750-hour contractural limit. In addition, many of the extra payments that CC still enjoy were withdrawn from pilots and added to the basic salary pot. At no point have the pilots threatened or ballotted for industrial action.
Scooby and Stansdead there is an ongoing conversation between BALPA and the pilots about what changes pilots would like to see in their terms and conditions. That conversation is held via the BALPA website forums, in which intelligent, calm and rational discussions occur covering all aspects of the pilots' lot, and the Company in general. So, yes, research and opinion-collecting goes on all the time. Pilots' expectations of pay negotiations are well-informed by factual research into the Company itself, the industry and the wider economy, which is gathered both by individuals and the Union, and presented clearly and unambiguously to the Union membership - and is not fed by gossip! That way, pilots will not be led to believe that there is a chance of a large pay rise when there patently is not! In any case, the pilots are now more or less where they feel they should be in relation to the industry pay norms, and that is why future negotiations will concentrate on lifestyle issues (rostering etc).
Unite has failed spectacularly to inform its membership, gather their opinions, and guide their expectations realistically. It has no clear idea what it expects to achieve by industrial action, and seems not to have adequately informed its membership about the risks of such action at a time when the entire airline industry is facing a major economic downturn, and when the Company itself is already well short of its earning potential. In other words, the timing is bad and you don't collectively know what you're trying to achieve, therefore the action is highly likely to fail. Possibly disastrously.