I vote...sack the union and company management and put Scooby and vs_lhr in charge! It would be soon sorted then...
I'm sorry I just think this is a mess, on both sides. And I can now only see the union losing this one. I think the last pay offer was a good one as a starting point, but using a strike as a stick to beat the company just isn't going to get anywhere. The idea that came from a lot of posters is there will be an 11th hour deal. There won't.
I think the CC are worth more, I do, and I wish you the best of luck. Just think its a tough fight you now have.
RP