Dingbaticus,
Really glad to hear a measured pro-BASSA voice.
Just one point I need to make.
The 'upgrade fraud' problem was down to IFCE management. They took it upon themselves to emphasize the ambiguities of the missive from Asset Protection a couple of years ago. It was aimed at station staff down route who were taking back handers to upgrade pax prior to boarding. It was not meant to bugger up the upgrade for staff on board.
No one changed the rules but sadly the XXXX brigade managed to cut their noses off to spite their face and forced 'Asset Protection' to remove the subtle powers of SCCM's and place them firmly in the hands of the skipper.
If it's worth knowing, most skippers when asked, will honor any 'upgrade' you propose. So in effect nothing has changed, apart from (insensitivity unavoidable) the fact that a great number if crew have no ST. Just get your Union to accept the proposal and we'll be back to a more formalized square 1 on upgrades.