Nosferatu - I don't really think you are aggrieved to 'admit' that your colleagues are right. BA does need trimming, a lot of it, and quickly too. So why aren't we getting rid of all those expensive pilots? Is it because they know their requirements for flight crew almost to a man (no pencil and paper stuff here, we're talking big computer processes)? Is it because with natural wastage they know they're going to be short of flight crew soon and there's no slack left in the system to work them harder? Is it because the only way to solve that problem is to eliminate BA flying positions rather than hire new people? If Rod had really addressed the problem we'd have 10000 fewer support staff still for the same number of flight crew, just like Lufthansa.
Your concern for our CEPs is noble, and I'm sure they appreciate a flying job, but have you considered that there are now 150 fewer positions for them in BA? Without scope who's to say that we won't continue down this line? Then there might not be jobs for them for years, and that will really hit them in the pocket. Yeah there's a real world out there, and bad things happen, but don't go overboard with the 'lucky to have a job' line. We're lucky to be born healthy, we're lucky to live in a civilised country, we're lucky we're not starving african children. How little will you accept before you start thinking 'Perhaps I'm lucky, but this stinks', because thats the level management are trying to find and thats what they'll pay you if they can.
As to your point about the profitabilty of BAR, there you are simply passing off fiction as fact. BAR overall has been profitable in recent years. Simple fact. BAs version of the accounts are available, go and look them up if you have time. The RJ move does not guarantee profitability in the regions. There has been no business case made , no cost analysis has been done. The move is a political whim and nothing more. Scope will happen and needs to happen to set the bottom line. Don't fool yourself that a pilot shortage will push up your wages. Easy and Ryanair are offering big wedge to those who'll join, so why aren't your wages going up this year? When did BA ever achieve its T&Cs like that? When its crews were paid better than market rate the company said 'Can only afford market rate'. Now they paid less than market rate its 'We can't afford to pay any more'. The firm won't pay you a penny more than they can get away with, and if you demand a fairer salary then it's up to them to work out which area of gross waste and inefficency to tackle to find the funds.