Looking at it from a business perspective Balpa approached this dispute in their usual, rule book fashion, which of course O Leary doesnt have. He does however have Balpa`s number and pushed the buttons he knew would work. Ryanair have never been a `redundancies` company instead being cash rich and expanding. So 3 weeks before the `Grand Plan` he issued his armageddon video. He is noted for having the ability to carry such threats out. That I would suggest changed the course of this dispute. The Union were powerless. The pilots weren`t scabs, they were people with hopes, fears, dreams, aspirations and families. They simply took the view that what they had was a lot better than what they might lose..
I`m not making any comment on the rights or wrongs of this dispute but merely how the dynamics lined up. Many, of course, hate O`Leary but it is foolish to try to ignore him, as Balpa found out.