Romulus,
I didn't say bonuses existed at JHAS, rather that they do exist at other companies as you acknowledge. My point on that was that the employees believed that they do.
As to seeking further savings when things are running lean, any company should consider the cost/benefit when doing so, as much as we like to think it is, workplaces are not the same. It's a two-way street to make it work.
Your Qantas/SIAEC is an example where the same things work at one place but not at the other.