Um.. I believe that what happened was that TW and DS were in discussions with BA. The problem at the time was that Unite were running short on time for new dates. BA offered to extend the normal deadline to allow Unite to put the offer to members on the proviso that no strike dates were called. TW said he would do that, however, at the press conference the following morning Lennie went and rubbished the offer and announced strike dates. BA then promptly withdrew the offer citing that Unite had not negotiated in good faith. Within days TW was asking BA to put the offer back on the table so that they could put it to members. Typical Unite cockup.
It will be interestingto see what Lennie does now. He doesn't come across as being as savvy as Tony Woodley. He might be the undoing of Unite. Only needs one ill-advised strike call and a company who will sue and the union funds could take a pasting. If Safety Concerns is correct that he is not of a mind to bring this dispute to a close, then he is in grave danger of winding up with egg on face.
Why ? well he's in a no-win situation. All very well to huff and puff about calling all Unite members out on strike, but what happens when either a) nobody apart from a handful of cabin crew heed the call or b) some bright spark suggests that this is secondary action. plus c) it is pointed out that the union are repeating the same issue from the previous stoppage and thus any strike action is unprotected ? So either the response is a damp squib, or results in lots of sackings and Unite being sued. Not an auspicious start. The longer it is allowed to drag on, the more ineffectual he will appear.