MissM,
Very magnanimous of you. I, personally, hold the totally opposite view. Someone who lives abroad and benefits from the non residents tax breaks who take industrial action when that action brings with it the loss of their perks has made their own choice. Staff Travel, as discussed previously, is a perk offered at the whim of the company. If it were not then the tax burden applied would make your recent allowances tax increase seem minute.
They are not deserving of sympathy as they have made a choice both to rely upon a perk to get to and from work and to be of the naieve belief that BASSA would 'get it back in 5 minutes'.
Welcome to the real adult world where decisions have consequences. Financial compensation for those individuals would be discriminatory against all personnel who pay for their own non subsidised travel to work.
You make the choices that shape your lives.