Mildly Militant:
...I also understand that part of the 1997 agreement was the removal of certain payments.Long day and box payments were awarded after a substantially longer duty than what it used to be, petrol allowance was removed to name but a few.
Petrol allowance, box payments etc are an outdated concept. Many companies have cut back on these types of payment over the past 10 years, not just BA.
In 2001 many c/c with Bassa's approval accepted a permanent contract reduction moving from full time to 75% or 50% contract
With BASSA's approval? You mean crew that wanted to go part time were allowed to, 'with the approval of the Union'? 
In 2008/2009 VR was offered and not everybody who asked for it was given it, the same with part time many people have been waiting patiently to be offered it, assuming that the economic downturn would give them the opportunity to reduce their hours.
BA is not alone in looking for VR during the economic downturn. Like every other company, they ask for volunteers, then match the posts those people are in to the business need. If the business need states that only 'x' amount from a certain grade/fleet can be released on VR without affecting the business, then there will be people who do not get it (VR). It is standard practice, not some nefarious BA tactic.
As for 'assuming' that you can go part time just because of the downturn; this shows a lack of understanding as to how the business works, and is as good a reason as any why BASSA should stick to looking after the CC, not trying to run the company.
In most companies this alone would be perceived as a collaborative workforce willing to help their employer in difficult times.Yet, these facts are completely overlooked and the blame is strictly apportioned to Bassa.Why?
Your examples do nothing to prove that the workforce are collaborative; they are just examples of exactly what most other big companies have been doing over the past few years.
What they do show is an obviously ingrained belief from some CC and from BASSA that they should be able to tell BA how to run the business