I think it's fair to say that most people, when working in well salaried jobs will be expected to do hours of unpaid overtime however with no guarantee of reward. As a BA pilot the more hours you do the further up the list you go, very few industries give this non meritocratic reward.
I am sure there is a compromise and I hope it will be found because this country is getting a little over the top with striking.
BA is a Public company and it Directors have a right to demand the best possible return for Shareholders. The European Airline Market is going to be a bloodbath and BA's success will depend on Open Skies not being manipulated by an industry desperate to hang on to rewards that are not present in any other professional industry.