operational staff had a 2.8 % pay cut
I think that if you check your payslip at the end of the month you will find that you got a 2% increase.
It might be less than the August 2008 RPI figures gave you cause to expect, but it's still more than the pensioners got (and 1.1% more than the RPI increase over 2008).
Anyway, wouldn't SC53 WAT be a better plate for PB (with appropriately placed rivets)?