The tube drivers bring or threaten to bring London to its knees several times every year. Whether it's over pay, conditions, redundancies, one of their members being caught playing squash on sick leave, the public hate them, and they don't give a frack. Managers give in to them every time, and that's with public money too. Their starting salary is more than our experienced FOs.
Not saying
PR isn't a factor and I'm sure Balpa can play the game, but Flybe won't back just because Guardian readers think we're all living in the staff car park at once our night minicab shift has finished. They'll back down because industrial action will affect bookings and affect the bottom line. Nothing more nothing less.