We expect a contract with a respectable wage increase. We are willing to negotiate.

We are highly interested in a mediated solution. However, there is still a very long way between an improved offer and a solution. The employers will have to move quite a bit.

Anyone who treats staff like this is preparing the ground for a big fight.

When should workers ask for more money but in good times? It's fair. Employers need to see that it can't go on like this.

This is a model case of a healthy company being sucked dry.

We had hoped to keep Eric. There was an unwillingness on his part to re-negotiate his contract, and we really had no alternative but to make this trade.