This is not new. Ansett and Australian management did the same thing in '89.
Qantas
PR are also copying the tactics used in '89 - bad unions, holding hard working Australians to ransom, etc,. etc,.
Difference here is the unions are carrying on with legal, protected industrial action sanctioned by Fair Work Australia.
Once the Airline starts locking out workers and pleading with the Government to step in, you KNOW they are on the back foot.
I am not a betting man but I know who I would put my money on to blink first!