Sadly, as is often the case during labour disputes, people have begun taking swipes at each other rather than at the cause of the problems.
The cause, in this case, is not the poor pay at Virgin (though that is indisputable), but the appallingly badly handled negotiations intended to improve that pay. Both the Union and the Company can hang their heads in shame for so poorly representing the Cabin Crew's interests, and for having totally failed to both understand and address the needs and wants of the CC. The root cause of the discontent and the impasse we find ourselves in now is lack of communication. Communication between Company and Crew, Company and Union and Union and Crew. The communication vacuum is filled, inevitably, by rumour, speculation and conjecture.
The greatest shame is that, because no-one really understood or knew what happened during the negotiations, a minority of CC rejected a deal that would have paid an increase of between 8.5% and 10.5% from April this year compared to what you are getting now, plus backpay of between 4.9% and 5.5% of salary for the period April 2007 to date. Yes, there were one or two conditions attached, but those numbers represented a very considerable increase, and one which no workers in any other field (let alone CC) are likely to achieve in 2008.
The Union has no plan or stated aim for these strikes. It simply wants to put pressure on the Company, but has no clear idea of what that pressure is intended to achieve. You may note the contrast with the BAA dispute, which was about very specific items, and in which avenues of communication were left open.
For the majority of you that either didn't vote, or voted against this strike (and the majority who didn't vote, or voted for the payrise), the solution is in your hands. It shouldn't be, but it is: call the Union. Tell them to get back to the table, in whatever way they can. Call the Company too, if you can, and say the smae thing. Tell them how you feel, and that you understand that communication is the only way a solution will be found. Striking aimlessly is no different to silently sulking after an argument, and will achieve nothing except more bad feeling.
Talking, not fighting, is the only way ahead.