Because this is the old time Socialists of the TGWU who are fighting a far larger battle than people realise. It is for control of who really runs BA in the run-up to moving to Terminal 5. Quite simply they do not want 'a settlement'. Like Napoleon leading his army against the Brits at Waterloo, the TGWU is sending in early a regiment (BASSA) to try and blunt a front of Wellington's army (BA) in to soften it up before the real cavalry charge comes. That will be when the spiteful groundstaff battle commences, and really shuts down the airline later this, or next, year. The TGWU has no interest in settling this- it's really just part of a wider strategy of, and make no mistake on this, who controls BA. It's been the ground unions up to now. Meanwhile, shame about the troops in the first wave of the attack, they're going to get hammered, but that's the price you pay for war. There is still a lot of fighting to come by the heavies. BA will win this one, but the next ones won't be so easy.