Keel Beam,
Obviously Bassa have make the most of the situation, that's hardly surprising as they are in dispute with BA but it does not take away from the fact that BA did in this instance, make a mistake. I don't think even Bassa can control when a BA manager sends out an email!!
This was discussed extensively on the BA ESS cabin crew forum by many cabin crew and the company corrected the situation quickly once they realised that this mistake had happened in the interpretation of the maternity regulations, by whoever sent out this email to all the Crew Managers. It had over the last couple of weeks affected five newly pregnant cabin crew members and BF has corrected the mistake.
Thhese are my own personal views and not those of BA