Go back a few years and you will see that we lost a purser from upper deck and last year another one. The principle is that once it's gone you never get it back.
Even still, you now have more supervisory crew than BOAC did, so it is not necessarily true that there won't be a need in future large aircraft or that the upswing in the economy saves us all (here's to hoping...!)
It is not a particularly safe principle to stonewall on the basis that it can't be negotiated back in future - give the business some flexibility (particularly in Eurofleet), and negotiate some bonuses based upon productivity and business improvement and everyone could be a winner while building a stronger business.
Problem is, that is exactly what WW was offering...!
Perhaps that was not communicated well, and perhaps WW does want to retain the union through which to negotiate with staff - I think WW's error was in relying on the union to communicate the reality of what was trying to be achieved rather than talking directly to staff and sooner.
I expect that he did not want to be seen undermining the union during negotiations. However, after 18 months of the union undermining him and his management while - it seems - they negotiated (or tried to) in good faith, it all seems a little pointless.
WW and management should have communicated directly with staff earlier and stronger - hindsight give us all that easy answer.
Reality is that Malone et al were irresponsible and childish with your future, when WW was expecting some adult behaviour. What union on earth in this day and age thinks it is a good idea NOT to negotiate, during the worst recession since the 1930s...?!
We can only hope that pointed questions on this forum eventually penetrate the veil of unreality in lalaland on crewforum, and that those reps can be brought to account for their totally irresponsible actions. Only then can the crew have proper representation that they need and deserve, be it under Unite or elsewhere.