In my view the whole redundancy thing is a right dodgy scam.
bmi 'management' are very wily and sought only to surpress pay deals and reduce terms and conditions. The object being to show the pilot workforce as a smaller item on the balance sheet.
I.E. Use the Sep 11th atrocities to downsize in the full knowledge (from years of experience) that business will pick up next summer and overall pilot establishment will be unchanged.
Never mind the human cost in stressed domestic lives and increased angst amongst pilots.
The boardroom culture, usually hidden behind smokescreens and mirrors, is now understood well. The net result is that many will find jobs in better industrial cultures in more profitable business to boot.
The whole thing has been around far too long (rather like me) and is very Victorian in outlook.
Good luck all you young folk who are on your way; just don't look back.