Oh how we live in unprecedented times and its altogether very unsettling for all of us in the industry.
As it stood before the current crisis BA particularly its short haul was at an enormously large cost disadvantage when compared to the low cost airlines, who have immeasurably lower costs and operate in the same market pairs.
The industry wage, especially in cabin crew, (and various ground handling jobs) has been dropping, with many roles being outsourced by many airlines in order to attempt to somewhat level the playing field of cost. The low cost airlines are the ones who have torn the Ts & Cs up and brought in substantially lower starting salaries. I understand people are angry but also worth considering the macro environment. If BA is to survive it will need to slim down its cost base. It looks like it will be firmly reliant on its short haul flying for some time, without its profitable US operation that would appear to subsidise its less profitable short haul flying. Management are left with limited options and nothing they attempt to do will be attractive to those impacted.