BEagle - Absolutely first class post, as ever!
Sunfish - well reasoned and said. Sadly for many BA personnel on here, I regrettably agree 100% with your statement that:
The net result is poisonous industrial relations, a disengaged workforce and eventual collapse because the management, intent on their own advancement and being unable to empathise with their own staff keep sending out the "meta message" (the message you send when you don't think you are sending a message) that you little people don't matter in the scheme of things - which is a mistake, because one pilot, mechanic or cabin crew can undo your company's reputation in a heartbeat, and there is nothing you can do about it, nor will you even know it's happened until it's too late.
This just another step downhill.