Oval,
I'm not interested in this going on forever. I do, however, think there is room for both optimism (as Liam addressed) and realism. They are not mutually exclusive regardless of this group's history or your own jaded perspective. I would rather be a "dreamer" than what you are because I believe this job is and will continue to be much better than a contract job. We have and will continue to do better than market forces even with the less than perfectly unified group we have now. Note that guys like you do nothing to help things, even if you are not a scab.
In closing I'll ask you (and anyone who would like to answer), would the company rather have with 2800 Ovals or 2800 cxorcists in their quest to lower costs? I think we all know the answer to that one. Your pessimistic attitude serves only to embrace the conciliation the company strives for. I'll leave you with some things this group has done well over the last few years:
- membership drive to over 80% from 50%
- informal integration of the LPF into the AOA
- educational allowance and HKPA for non-expat pilots
- SLS 2009 which was repaid (mostly)
- 25 year housing (even if it is not in writing)
- AOA access to new joiners
- choice for RA55 and BPP or RA65
- valiant losing effort in the SO BPP case
- pay rise in 2011 with no concessions
- "favorable" result for AMS based pilots
- strong HKALPA and AOA influence on new FTLs
- freighter PX win without legal expense in court
- collective bargaining negotiations in both Oz and Canada
- undetermined, but hopeful, result for Paris based pilots
I'm sure I missed some. Feel free to add to the list...