Perspective Arnold. Don't always look at it from an Engineers perspective.
QANTAS IR learned a bit regarding different tactics in 2007/2008. Much like armies have changed the way they fought each other over the years, 2007/2008 brought a different perspective and learnings to the IR arena. They may say they are prepared to have the 2011 dispute cost more than last time, but I'll bet they would have no such intention. They will have different tactics to use this time around, ones we haven't yet thought of.
I'm still wondering where their alternative workforce is. I wonder what color cloth they will wear. I wonder if they are Australian. These are my unanswered questions, all I ask is you don't cut me down too quickly. Could be there is no alternative workforce and they will take any action we give on the corporate chin. If that's the case I don't mind being proved wrong and labeled as such.
So I say, be patient.
LAME2