This from Airliners.net - Jetstar And Consequences To Qantas, thread
"It is no accident that Jetstar are receiving 787s before Qantas. The reason for this is to establish a 787 crew and operations at Jetstar prices. Meaning that if QF staff didn't toe the line, or if for example, the government got in the way, QF could simply get jetstar to operate services on its behalf. Both Jetstar branded, and Qantas branded, full service 2 or 3 class service. So QF gets what it wants either way. "
This is what's over the horizon. Every "expansion" hull on order for mainline would go to BEA. So command time would constantly increase with constant downward T&C pressure. BA makes a healthy profit off the back of squeezing labour. Fuel prices will carry on up, Peak Oil ?
A common seniority list shares common goals. There is no way BA will back down so the ball is firmly in the pilots half.