Now it's too late, Pandora's box is wide open and there is little to no leverage during a deep recession to change anything regarding these shameful 17th century working conditions. And I'm afraid it will only get worse....
Bull**** Doug. Have you seen the demographic of pilot demand versus predicted supply over the next 10 years? This industry is always cyclic, and an upturn will follow this particularly brutal recession in due course, as surely as day follows night. Supply outstrips demand for now, but that situation will reverse, and soon too. When it does, airlines will need to rethink their terms and conditions in order to attract and keep the best people. It's only seniority lists that creates dead wood, career first officers and an enormous logjam of other union-protected flotsam to gum up the works. The sooner the BA's and Aer Linguses of this world vanish from the scene, so much the better.
That in turn will free up the venture capitol needed to fund new airlines and equipment that provide real service and value for money, jobs, profits and futures rather than the surly, menopausal frumps at BA who seem maniacally determined to have "Christmas Strike of '09" as their valediction. Good riddance to them.
Don't be such a Cassandra, Doug. Better days will come. Happy Holidays to you.