3% is going backwards for anybody in this day and age. The outside world has already past the aviation industry in many ways over the past 5 years.
If you just compare simply management wage increases to yours it is an out right insult and a 5% increase is nothing to request. But as said before 3% is the gate keeper for QF and if they give it to eng, every other union will battle for it aswell. It will be a massive defeat that will be dodged at every corner and angle known to man kind.
I believe engineering should battle like hell for it though, they deserve it for all **** they go through on a daily basis. Every QF employee will support them because they are battleing not just for themselves but for the whole industry, they are in the best position out of the QF group to go for what is well deserved, after the destruction and mess and crappy desicion making that has gone on above them, they have nothing to loose now.
The outside world will be not happy about about delays for these periods but if it goes on long enough, those who no what your fighting for and compare figures will no doubt think your requests are out of question, it will make management look like the crooks that they are.
The more you desturb, the more angry the public will get and questions to what is happening will hit the media which will help make mangement look like crooks and help get what you want.
Outside of Qantas there are aviation engineering companys that EBA's follow almost parellel to QF but are smaller, QF's actions directly result as outcomes for their employees too. So don't believe people are not supporting you they maybe small groups but they are and have been watching closely and are seeing the curuption unfolding by your seniors actions.
Its time to simply just go oldschool and give it to them hard.
EXPOSE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE!!!