I guess B scalers will keep flogging the 'A scale horse' whilst A scalers tell them "tough, thats life" or, "it's industry standard" or "you can work to 65 like us to make up the shortfall".
The vast majority of us joined on a contract that had the terms clearly explained. We knew what we would earn in each rank but we had no promises of when we would upgrade. There was never any doubt that retirement age was 55 - the legal age for flying was higher than that in many of our recruitment markets for quite a while. In spite of the difference in the CX RA and our national RA we joined anyway! We joined as the lower RA would lead to a faster upgrade time!
So where is a B scaler vs A scaler today? Well if a B scaler joined the same day as me and was on the same career path (with the exception of remaining HKG based throughout) he would be about $5.9million worse off (after 15 years). If I was still in the old PF (CPALRS) he would be $11.2million worse off. As we move forward from this date he still needs over a 20-25% increase in salary and PF to keep the gap from increasing. I have ignored investment return on the excess - it is purely the cumulative nominal difference.
So unlike some PPRUNE posters I am finding it a little hard to justify RA65 as just 'tough luck' and 'industry standard'. CX has wanted RA60 since at least 2000. That was long before any supposed legal pressure at outports. They didn't introduce in 2000/01 as the then AOA President pointed out that they would have to compensate everyone affected and basically everyone is affected - we are all affected in terms of delayed seniority in staff travel, basing availability, roster bidding etc.
RA65 will be the norm in CX one day. Whether it is now or when the first CoS08 comes up for command is up to us to determine as the contract cannot be varied without our agreement. Last summer CX wanted to blackmail FOs into signing onto new 'based contracts' that would have included RA65 and waived their right to bypass pay. That was probably the main reason the GC voted against presenting the deal to the membership.
The way forward - we have about 1400+ pilots who joined prior to CoS08 who are FO/SOs - they should receive compensatory bypass pay above what is required of CX now. Those payments need to be far more transparent and rigorously enforced unlike the arbitrary distribution that occurs under 'Company Policy' - its in the contract, it should be paid accordingly.
Any work beyond 55 should be on the same T + C's as existed prior to RA55.
Until we get a fair and equitable solution CX can continue to extend on whatever terms people are happy to work for and CX will occasionally incur bypass pay commitments for those it can't 'back door' through a myriad of basings options - I didn't even know HKG was a base until recently!