This strike is very easy to settle but BA are playing hardball. I spoke with a BA captain in the last few days who stated that BA's stance was unreasonable and unnecessary, unless one considers that BA's response isn't directed at MF crew. It's, he suggested, a clear signal to flight crew and other BA staff. There looms a pension issue, the closure of NAPS. BA have stated that the pension will be reviewed but all understand that reviewed means closed. I believe that approx 2000 pilots remain in NAPS, 8000 cabin crew and around 10,000 other staff (ground and engineers etc).
The MF dispute is potentially merely an Amuse Bouche to forward industrial relations.