the CEO et al are leading by example with a pay freeze. Expect the same demand in future EBA negotiations.
I think you're correct; that's what they'll want. But I also heard that the last time such a measure was announced, with great fanfare by GD, there was a near revolt among middle-managers; the bonuses were paid after all, in a very low-key way, so as not to upset the announced perception during EBA negotiations.
I believe current management are entirely capable of such deceptive and misleading conduct; they'll take a pay freeze then, later on after EBAs are finalised, receive a "retention bounty" (
not a bonus!) or some such for staying through the pay-freeze.
Someone prove me wrong; please!