Thanks JetsetL.
I've been where you are in a company that went from "family" to hard nosed managers in a downsizing world. So have been in your chair.
I can see where BA is between a rock and a hard place. They need to be good to existing employees but have the hatchet of lawsuits for any and sundry relating to current personnel hanging ove their heads.
They know that anything they do right now can end up in discovery in a court case (some of which are coming down the pike.)
It makes an unsociable workplace when an employer is constantly protecting itself from nasty bits coming up in future discovery.
It's bad for everybody. But the employees bear the brunt.