Some random questions if I may:
1. Do you think that an out of court settlement is likely? Or do you see it going all the way to a judgement? Presumably the two sides are talking in the run-up to the trial. (Is BASSA's least worst outcome from this mess some kind of out of court settlement, linked to withdrawing the threat of IA?)
2. Instead of strike call #2, and assuming a Yes vote, could BASSA opt for a work to rule? Or are they in effect doing this already? Presumably this might save them from some of the potential damages claims, keep the reps in power and still inflict some on-going damage on BA. (Until any 90 day contract changes are introduced that is.) The reduction in crew levels will be difficult to reverse so realistically is this the only way that BASSA can get out of the problem? ie they continue to fight but by way of an on-going work to rule. Over time the reason for the work to rule will be changed to another cause and the original reason quietly dropped.
3. If BA implements the permanent withdrawal of travel benefits for strikers, does the joyous welcoming of this move by other departments at BA, in effect give BA the go ahead to impose it in any future strikes by other departments? Say things go pear shaped in the future and a different department really does have a justifiable strike situation, then wouldn't it be a bit rich to complain about any loss of travel benefits that are then imposed on that department?
4. Would an incentive be for BA to offer a small number of shares, (say 15), to everyone at BA who works on a BASSA strike day, as a thank you for keeping the business running? ie everyone at BA, not just those doing different jobs, would get the same number of shares per strike day worked. This would enforce the feeling of everyone mucking in for the long-term benefit of the company.
As a largely paper based exercise it wouldn't cost BA much in actual readies out of the bank account and any strike won't last long. If recent history carries on then it will cost very little in the long-term as BA is not exactly renown for paying dividends. They could hide the shares in another wrapper / nominee account so the shareholders' names won't appear on the official list of shareholders and then BASSA won't be able to tell who was breaking the strike. (ala hiding shares to avoid animal rights protestors getting hold of names and addresses.)
5. After tackling an already docile and broken ITV workforce, is Adam Crozier going to be WW's successor?
(I am nothing to do with BA.)