Incidentally, I can reveal that BA are 'not expecting crew to be paid the same as VS. We are prepared to pay a little bit more.'
(source: BA Manager Transformational Change In Flight Customer Experience).
Based on the above manager's contribution on a course I recently attended, I imagine the salary will not be a pay scale as such. Too many increments encourage crew to stay on which is not cost efficient. Crew turnover is currently 1% at LHR compared to 9% at LGW.
Burn out is the target here. Work your crew as hard as you can, that would be high productivity, recruit and replace as required.
Incredibly, there are some crew that don't believe any of this will happen.
Get used to it and start thinking ahead. If you cannot deal with a huge reduction in pay and terms and conditions, what are you going to do?
There will be more than tears. BA will not be shedding a single one.