It took a while but the strategy of the game just dawned on me.
- Unite threatens a strike over x-mass hoping BA will cave, but leaving them no other option than to ballot for one when BA doesn't;
- Since they realize a strike over x-mass will severely damage their cause they make some deliberate mistakes in the ballot process;
- BA seeks an injunction and wins (as intended by Unite);
- Unite can claim that they were sucker-punched by those clever and evil BA corporate lawyers and call off the strike without losing too much face;
- Unite claims this forces them back to the negotiation table where the accept some small token by WW and claim victory for the BA CC.
But what happens if BA does not seek an injunction? What if they will contest the legality of the strike only after it started? WW may have a very different agenda.... He already has public support.
Any takers?