I agree with you about the clauses cementhead, but you also have to remember that every time you take a pay rise, which is below inflation, it's a pay cut, and it keeps the LAME pay rates going backwards.
Remember its not just about you and me, it's about everyone who enters this job in the future and the calibre of engineers in the future. Pay peanuts, get monkeys!
I'm already earning less than Qantas's competitors!
So yes it is worth the grief for 2%, id rather sit on my current pay than accept 3%