There is the old adage that if you don't know history, you may be doomed to repeat it. Crew who were not around during the BASSA/BA weenie roast should have been well served to do their own research on how BA and Willie handle cabin crew strikers.
It could have saved them a great deal of loss and heartbreak if they'd done deep research and tried any other way possible. If all else failed and strike was imminent, then crew needed to be aware what they were up against. I'm afraid that some crew, who may have still been in 6th form last time Willie took on a cabin crew union, just didn't know what would happen.
He's played another blinder. He's made missing crew unremarkable and basically unneeded.
PC767, you hit the nail on the proverbial. Little effect though isn't quite correct--I'd go so far as to say Willie has delivered to a great number of his premium pax a BETTER service on strike than without one.
The Qatar wet leased aircraft have a genuine wider comfier premium seat up front--not the narrow economy seat with just a table in the middle seat.
Reports coming in from veteran BA travelers in CE are extolling their wonderful experiences during the strike, saying the Qatar crews are fantastic, many of the pilots flying them are British anyway, the food service is of a much higher caliber and served with panache and professionalism by Qatar crew (compared to BA's CE food service), and they are even getting their pre-flight champagne service during loading. Value ADDED not lost.
Some report friendly banter over the strike with Qatar crew and overall the cabin atmosphere is reported to be jovial.
When an airline delivers better, higher quality service during a strike to many of their highly valued premiums, then a union needs to wake up and smell the roses and try another method to get justice for its workers.
This method currently in play is not the way. But for gasping dinosaurs like Unite, they only have one arrow in their quiver--strikes.
I'm sorry for all involved on the crew side. It's awful. You've been led badly. BA are playing hard ball yet again and they are in this for keeps. Deep pockets and full planes going out.
They may eventually cave, but only after maximum point has been made about what happens if you strike. We'll see.