It wasn't my post re University and IR but I know the one you mean and can I give you my take on the really big picture?
I spent some time in the early 70's at one of our more Left wing Uni's and witnessed the antics of the Left ( and I mean
the Left, as in the Communist Party, International Marxist Group, Trots, the odd Maoist, Judean Peoples' Front ) from close range. One thing I learned very early on was they are very good at rabble rousing and getting the barracades manned (literally) by the rank and file Union members but they were never, ever, present at the scene of the crime, they let some poor schmuck take the wrap in the cells overnight
whilst they continued plotting for Class War and world domination ...
Fast forward 30 years and you've got Unite, whose top hieracy are similar age to myself but unlike me have an interesting background in the ultra left, mentoring the BASSA Reps. IMHO I reckon some at Unite see BA as a prime target, and are only too willing to use some ,how shall I put it, politically unaware members of the workforce to claim another capitalist scalp. BTW the pictures of some of our Cabin crew members appearing as heros in Socialist Worker did seem somewhat incongruous but at least it made me chuckle.
So IMHO there's one explanation - BASSA and the Cabin Crew are being used by Unite to claim a high profile scalp, and frankly Unite and their senior Reps don't give a stuff about the consequences to BASSA as a Union or the individual member as long as they "get" Willie Walsh.
Sorry I've gone on, good luck, I'll get my coat.
wiggy
edited to add: and a Labour voter....until B.liar...