People here critical of Joe and his statement clearly:
1. Don't know how the system works, and;
2. Don't know how the game is played.
If you listened to Joe's radio interviews, he clearly states that the article he wrote was also industrial. The type of statement Joe made to return to work was typical for the situation. Anyone who expected Joe to be reinstated without such an empty statement is not really thinking the issue through fully. The statement is simply a face saving exercise, and anyone with more than three working neurons in their head would see that. Having his job back will make his industrial efforts more effective than being a soon-forgotten sacked pilot. In a conflict situation, brinkmanship can lead to two losers.