oldflyboy
As an ex crew performance manager I can attest to the many days operationally fit reps used to get taken off trips to attend meetings or do office cover, all the time being paid a nice stipend by BASSA worth more than the allowances for the trip, as well as their basic salary by BA. This was recognised custom and practise for years.
It was for all Unions, as I understand it. It was one of those moves that emerged in a different era.
As I have said before, this is the airline's 'Wapping'. One of the problems with human nature is that the 'pendulum' gets pushed too far in one direction and then the other. Mgmt held sway for a long time (centuries) so unions pushed it back the other, just as far. Now, instead of it being held in the middle to balance both sides, it will swing too far back the other way.