I cannot believe that people are seriously suggesting that it is O.K for the F/E's to be told to become CC. Get real! No offense to cabin crew but you wouldn't catch me doing it in a million years (I'd be in prison within a week for GBH), a bit of a come down from being the most important part of the most fantastic commercial a/c of all time.
All the pilots who are telling these guy's to just accept it because times are hard should hang their heads in shame. What will your reaction be if in 20 years we have the same discussion about pilots becoming technologically redundant?
I think we would hear a bit of bleating then....
Good luck with the action it's just a shame that is had to go that far.