Very true Porter.
"Pilots selectively choose when they are going to chase the award, if the operator has something the pilot wants (turbine, ME) the pilot will work for free. If the pilot is doing something they'd rather not (SE VFR) they then become award kings."
But a ASX listed company has much more to lose than - saving a few bucks on the award. A week long pilot strike "rumour" would crash the stock market price, that would wipe 10's of millions $'s off the company value in a days trade alone.