I think you may find it is overtight profit margins in a very competitive industry. The relentless drive down of costs made airlines' own catering departments unable to compete against independent catering firms massive purchasing power and lower meal unit costs. The competition is cut throat, and the union is a dinosaur from the 80s- the TGWU and its stranglehold on all things aviation. Cost cutting and lack of profits for GG have caused this confrontation. BA is just caught in the fallout of TGWU v GG. It is not supposed to happen, and secondary striking is illegal. I hope the companies will have the courage to call the TGWU to account, and sack all the people out on sympathy strikes in the different companies. They are effectively sacking themselves. It must be stamped out. Take them on now once and for all- the industry is sick of these wildcat strikes and the enormous costs that eventually the public must bear.