Makingasplash
I understand that if you take Pprune as the negotiation position of Unite, then it may seem disjointed. However, it will be the senior stewards position and views that will be put to VS at this stage. They will understand all of the wants of the crew and will also understand what is or is not achievable. This may have been the position before, but each crew member now has the fact that a strike has been called and it is real.
Unite have been involved in loads of industrial disputes over the years and will know how much a mandate 1500 no vote will have given them. If all 1500 who voted to strike are all flying on that day then VS does not operate. Likewise, if none of the 1500 are working, its business as usual. But the real fear is the unknown figure of how many others who did not vote will act? It could be another 1000 strikers. It may be none.
This is the first call to action in Virgins history. How many of the senior management team have been in this before? How many Unite negotiators have? That is where the experience is. If ACAS are called in, who has the experience in working with them? Will both sides agree to a mutually binding result? Who knows!