After an independent tribunal ordered a permanent end to the industrial dispute with its union members
Not so sure it's that permanent, I think the parties have a time limit in which to reach agreement over the current dispute, otherwise a solution will be imposed.
I think the OP's question is a good one. Worse case - do BA want to be putting their codeshare passengers on a third party "outsourced" Longhaul service in the Far East?
IMHO the lawyers will have the codeshare agreement all sewn up and in this day and age the passengers won't care if they think they're getting a good deal.