Litebulbs,
I agree with what you say about hoping for a reasonable employer, but unfortunately, that only works where the workforce reps are also reasonable. I have direct experience of managing two workgroups in the same union branch, but one group was consistently represented by "reasonable" individuals, and it was a pleasure to work with them to drive the business forward. Over time that group obtained better and better reward and conditions. The other group consistently elected Mr No men, and used every opportunity to force conflict and objection, and try and get something for nothing. There was a management history of giving in. Eventually, the only viable solution was to either close the place down (threatening the employment of the reasonable group) or breaking them. The parallel with the BA-Unite situation is very close. One key difference was that the full-time officials very much understood what was going on, and pointedly refused to grandstand in favour of the unreasonable group, and in the latter stages became very robust in telling it like it is.