There is no question that the general public loves cheap air fares.
Most, however (IMHO), love arriving safely, in one piece, EVEN more.
That is why this battle must be fought on the grounds of safety...Not the slide in terms, conditions and benefits...but the one thing the public DO understand and love more than cheap fares.
That is, the (almost) definite likelihood that they and their loved ones will get to the destination SAFELY and shall never have to go through the devastation of family and friends perishing in an accident that included causal factors relating to deteriorating safety standards in this country.
Should better terms and conditions come to pilots indirectly as a result of increasing safety standards...all the better.
Make no mistake, safety is the key to winning the
PR war and getting the average Aussie on board with our thinking. (Management will be pulling out all stops to convince the punters otherwise!)
PG