JTO, I like CGB are ex RAF, so you are preaching to the converted, however the expect to die for us but not get paid by us gets old, does that fact, automatically mean you should get pay rises regardless because of that fact? As said Operational allowances are for that, Not your core wage, if anything as said raise those.
It is the same with the likes of immigration staff striking because of the Government and their pensions, the Country cannot afford them, hence why the retirement age is being pushed upwards... But what really does pee me off is the fact that bloody MP's get their pension upon being ousted from Parliament, they to should have to wait until the retirement age.