Businesses need to adapt to stay competitive. Sometimes this involves making unpopular decisions that contradict previous policies and procedures. I do feel for the people whom this impacts, but ultimately this is the reality of running an airline business in an incredibly competitive market. If BA did not adapt to the changes in the industry then it would no longer exist.
It's also worth noting that BA is not the only airline that has had to make such changes. Name one non-state-sponsored legacy carrier that hasn't had to evolve to avoid being blown away by the LCCs?