As an ex boy in blue, we contributed a minimum of 11% of each monthly salary. It was being discussed that a new pension would be introduced with reduced payments for new recruits. Not sure if it happened, but if it did your next generation 49yr old ex inspector will be found in working in tesco rather than working out in the gym.
Now to BA's problem.
It was a fraud. Whilst asking full time staff to work for free, the company re-employed ex managers as consultants. Ex-managers who only left last christmas with a decent package. And now return on upto a quoted £1000 a day. Rational arguments such as the lack of pension contributions and NI being paid by BA are rather insignificant when, the company tells you matters are so bad volunteers are needed to work for free.