Sorry to keep on this unpaid work side track...
What about work experience and internship? Is that illegal too?
I'm pretty sure that the BA legal team would have double checked the legalities of this whole thing.
The same goes for potential ballot from Bassa. What will they ballot for? New Fleet? No can do. It's legal to set it up, so union members can't legally strike over that issue. No change of contract has been mentioned, whence the union will find it very difficult to find something to ballot for.
I'm sure the legal team is working overtime (no doubt paid overtime..) at the moment to make sure management has the upper hand and an answer to everything. Contingency plans are being put into action as we speak, just in case someone in the union decides that a strike is a good thing, or a wild cat/walk out/everyone sick day happens.
Gg