FACT - We had and still have 3 contingency plans that can be activated with 12 hours notice. JHAS was as you point out just 1/2 of one of them. Why would we let the engineers bring the airline to it's knees???
Contingency plans? Good luck. If our Association is mucked around at the negotiation table today when the words are being put to an agreement, you will need them.
Qantas had contingency plans as well. I was told they had 3 Billion to fight us. I responded that every one of our members has a pen and I would rather have the pens than 3 billion dollars (my wife may not agree).
So it cost them a reported 140 Million before they threw the towel in and we got the reasonable increase we asked for.
Our members have now agreed in principle to extremely fair terms. 4%, 3%, 3%. an extra weeks leave that still takes them to less then the ordinary Australian. Licence payments for licneces they attained for free some time ago. Payments for night shift in line with the old Ansett rates.
Again, you will need to come to the table today with your A game.