Joetom,
The cabin configuration on long haul is pretty much inflexible - if, however, over a period of time BA decided that customer demand required a particular class to have more seats, then it could change the config, and could change how many crew work the cabin,including increasing the crew complement, if that's what was required to achieve a particular service standard.
But (in addition to cutting costs) that's a major point of this exercise. BA want to regain control of the cabin - the company wants to decide itself the level of service provided to the customer. And BA wants to be able to decide how many crew it needs to achieve that service.
At the moment Bassa can veto any such change - in fact Bassa can make most of the important decisions in the department. Bassa are desperate to keep the balance of power in the department, but are now losing it.
The Bassa reps who personally benefit from the status quo are therefore kicking and screaming to try to fire up their largely indifferent colleagues to protect their own corner of influence.
But they are doing it at the vast cost of their rank and file members' interests.
Bassa need to be challenged from within. Who has the bottle to take on the loudmouths?