Having worked for a Dublin based outfit and now a German airline I find the new proposals would actually result in my working potentially shorter shift patterns!
If the guys in the UK want to protect their jobs they must recognise the advantages from the company point of view of expansion using fewer crews. This may not be morally correct and there may be a valid arguement in terms of potential fatigue, however cost is a big factor.
The airline I work for is already moaning about possible increases in costs due this proposal. If anything this will put the UK back on an even footing with the rest of europe and maybe as Immelman suggests the CAA will go with the flow.
How many pilots will end up being effected by this anyway? most of us already come under the more flexible JAR limitations not the UK ones!