IMHO it will be a battle of if the unions or the company has the slicker
PR machine. Media outlets thrive on controversy and speculation and there is plenty of fuel to add to that fire if it's suggested that BA is exploiting a global health pandemic to slay staff numbers and drive though over zealous detrimental changes to terms and conditions. Changes that are far from proportional to the crisis at hand.
No company likes copious amounts of bad press and especially so in demanding times at these. Jo Public is none the wiser and just thinks that BA is making 12,000 staff redundant, to ensure survival. Now is the time to enlighten your loyal customers and the wider public of the reality at hand and ensure that the media hold your management to account.