I agree, it's like watching a train crash in slow motion. For the life of me I can't understand how management allowing the perception that mainline is not viable, not as safe as it was, that Jetstar is a realistic replacement for international ops etc etc is helping the situation.
I know there are a few EAs coming up, but I would have thought that any gains made around the bargaining table from this would be more than offset by loss of consumer confidence in the brand.
Whilst we're on hypotheticals, how would FWA view compulsory redundancies in mainline when those employees had previously been denied the opportunity to transfer to J* ?