I do agree that BA should not have let this dispute drag on for so long.
It was nearly two years ago the Lehman Brothers collapsed and it was only at the beginning of 2009 did the company start having talks with the unions on cost-savings. The company set a deadline of 30 June 2009 which in itself was too late. The company should have completed negotiations and had changes ready to implement at the end of its financial year 31 March 2009 so it started the next financial year with the benefit of productivity savings.
Negotiations went on way past the 30 June 2009 deadline and from the court judgment it was clear then that BASSA would not play ball. It was only towards the end of the year did the company take matters into its own hands and introduce non-contractual changes.