Sorry to correct you but:
I still feel I have to correct you because BA always wanted changes to our agreements as well as the crew changes.
Project Columbus was just that, a project. BASSA got wind of it and started screaming blue murder then the economic whirldwind hit. BASSA put 2 and 2 together and, as usual, came up with 5.
As part of the negotiations BA offered to shelve MF and discuss savings options with BASSA which were to include combined payments. BASSA, once again fearing it would primarily hit the core CSD's, refused point blank to negotiate and off the whole mess started.
Yes BA have made mistakes. Weak management, inneffective control of a beligerent Union and a point blank unwillingness to curb the control of BASSA in the past has led to such an Ivory tower that when a CEO has the balls to take it down the sheep bleat blue murder. It's been too long coming and the pain of the adjustment is, subsequently, harsh.