Just to recollect and comment-
I for one "poo pooed" the system at the time and still do.
The graded structure failed on its key point of recognising "experience" in the industry, which was intended to be essentially time as a LAME (even though still a lacking and crude method but far superior than everyone starting in 1997) was sold for 2% payrise and with a 50% vote!
Rim you forget also the two grades the great new system cost "new LAME's" so whilst these newbies may now be finally equalising due to cappings but the volumes of cash lost in the period short paid will still take some time to recover.
This structure also discourages people to leave and mature their skills or live elsewhere and come back. Quit restrictive and discriminatory really.
How many years should an old LAME be paid a premium before the young catches his benefit. Ie when do they peak? This is where the issue is more about d1ck size than anything else. Is it that bad being capped at level 12 or 13 with options for training.
If it was about levels and cash Team A380, or various senior levels bypass the cappings!
The graded wage structure is a loyalty system, not much else really. That's what was voted for in 1997. The pitfalls were seen then and the LAME's that voted for it and creamed at the start at the cost to the new are now copping it in the end. (sorry for the freudian slip)! Fairs fair.
I don't think it benefits the company nor the skill base but they wanted it. GWS deters talent from applying and deadwood from leaving.
Sorry for the thread drift.
CSC is one step toward improving the system fairness, a new pay structure that recognises experience and encourages training and stimulates the idle would be another.