Hey Ferris,
I think you missed the point here! As Flowman has pointed out, something has to be done regarding pensions in France. A strike that will effect people in other countries is NOT a valid way of addressing a problem like this (IMHO). It's a little more than "employer writing contract in pencil".
As you said as well, Aviation isn't in the best condition at the moment, and the number of flight cancellations from British carriers (and not just BA!) surely causes economic problems here, and for other Foreign operators as well. Also, given the French's response to the whole fiasco on British beef and the subsequently forgotten EU fine imposed that was never paid, it is understandable industrial action like this causes uproar.
And, as Point 7 so eloquently put (who loves ya P7?), it does seem that any day ending in a Y is a good day for a strike.