Clare Prop , I am sure you do not work Christmas day, Easter day, New Years Day etc and get to spend those special occasions with your family, unlike most of us LAMEs, Pilots and operational staff who work a 24hour 7 daya a week roster that does not stop for anyone. Our base Rate is well below any skilled labour work in Australia and the money is made up on penalty rates. If I call in sick on a sunday, my family will go without for that week or two. That is how tuff it is getting for most of us. Our EBA is outdated and needs a complete overhaul. All other major airlines pay their LAMEs a salary and not the ancient pay structure we are on.
As for Emirates and Virgin, they have the perfect Aircraft to fly over via the Middle East. Funny how great your product can be when you invest your money in a new fleet of 777s, A340s and A380s and not a repainted 747 Donkey and so called Management pay rises.