So Boys, the time is now upon us.
One of our colleagues has been fired for putting his balls on the line and stating publicly what many here have been saying privately. He has done this, presumably, in an attempt to stop the slide of conditions in our industry. In other words, he did it for us all.
Now comes the big test. If AIPA fail to get this guy reinstated through FWA, who is going to make the stand. If the pilots of Australia stand idly buy and let this guy lose his job, and fail to take any action, then the message management will hear is that (as we already suspect) the pilots of Australia are a bunch of gutless, self centered prima donnas.
This is the hour my friends. If we do not stand up for Joe Eakins, and I'm talking taking it to the wire, then Buchanan and Joyce will have a green light to do whatever they want, because they will know that the pilots are too frightened to fight.
Make no mistake, Virgin and Tiger are going to be watching as well. They will also be reading the tea leaves if there is no industrial support for Joe.
The future is now in our hands. If the industry supports this guy, then the message to the bosses will be equally clear, and it will be that they have now pushed too far and the pilots are prepared to make a stand to stop the rot.
Interesting times indeed.