The way I see it is the 787 option was cancelled and the acquisition process paused because there is a view that the union may be seeking to take the pilots down a pathway of industrial action and/or launching lawsuits. The evidence of this is the calling of a pilot meeting, to which the CEOs and others were invited. Such meetings don’t happen often as I understand it? Presumably such meetings only occur if the union is contemplating doing something about whatever concerns they have and no matter how disproportionate the concerns are in reality.
Yes there are terms and conditions agreed for the 787, but that is only one factor in ordering more. Another factor is the possibility - real or perceived - that the new batch will be ordered and then wide scale industrial action will take place. That affects the decision to order more. Obviously a large number of people can’t see this obvious point and would rather continue the pprune group think party.