The market rate is determined by the laws of supply and demand and an individuals point on a scale should be determined by a combination of merit and responsibility. The days of just earning more for having been there a long time have long since gone in the real world.
I can however understand with fligh crew why the airline might be prepared to pay for experience.
It just seems to me that this whole dispute is based on a vastly over stated view of the importance of the cc within the overall team. Yes they clearly have a an important role but historically the union has exploited the situation and bullied weak management into ever more unaffordable deals. Also from what i have heard BA have been more than fair with the offers put on the table.
The reecent news about BASSA refusing to co-operate with the re-patriation flights says so much - surely the reaction from BA on this must tell thinking people on the prospects of BASSA winning any ongoing IA.