Just to add a bit to the crazy world of BASSA negotiating skills.
When BA proposed the hourly rate for crew a committee was set up to look in to it.
The BASSA team was led by a rep who had never accepted the Diners card and funded his own down-route expenses using his own debit card. He believed cabin crew should roll back the clock to the days of picking up cash allowances at hotel reception desks.
Needless to say his response to any change to allowances was a little on the negative side.
BASSA then adopted the usual stance of NO - NO WAY - NEVER EVER!!!!
The fact that it would have been the same sum of money just divided equally and that the tax would be reduced made no difference to the BASSA attitude to change.