I don't think anyone will be calling anyone RATS when the rumoured pay and benefit cuts come into being!
The current mood around the expats here seems to be very grim and I think it will take a huge amount to bring it back up to where it once was. Pay and benefit losses will just have people leaving by the plane load and lets face it, remove the very professional crews we have here now and replace them with third world drivers and the planes will be empty, so not a problem getting a seat! Don't get me wrong, the local pilots are also great operators and very professional, but will they be able to keep it up with pressure from above to save a cent or 2 and hoards of drivers from the cheaper side of the planet start occupying the vacant seats cutting corners and breaking the rules? Lets hope so.
Good luck to all job hunters in flight ops and even better luck to those who will be left to man the lifeboats.
Vote Feet!