Hmmm whilst I think BASSA's counterproposal was not "going to happen" I can't help that feel some aspects of the BA proposal are a little harsh.
It certainly isn't a set of proposals that BA could possibly hope to expect crew to swallow without a fight. Certainly the cessation of promotion opportunity without effectively taking a pay cut is rather a dampener on people's career prospects.
Whilst I know crew elsewhere are far worse off I still think there could have been a greater degree of tact within what BA have tabled and maybe a carrot to go with the stick.
Not all of it is totally unacceptable though and I think that at least the danger of "old fleets" being starved of work is gone (in fact it seems you will have plenty of work to do with the lack of downroute time!)
Whilst I'd agree change was needed I think it would be unfair of any of us to expect that this will not be deeply upsetting for a generally excellent bunch of Crew - many of whom have given many years loyalty to BA.
Whilst I hope my sympathy for the crew here is clear I have to say that if BASSA are such excellent negotiators how have they allowed BA's proposals to generally deteriorate as opposed to improving!?