I believe the F/E deserves a lot more respect than some of your guys are alluding to. Anyone who has been employed with one company for over 25 years deserves a pad on the back. The F/Es could have left BA couple of years of ago and gone somewhere else. Should BA award employees that are loyal to the company? Afterall, the cost of type training the F/Es are just as expensive as training the pilots.
As to working as CC, it is a completely different job as F/E. Most F/Es and pilots don't have the personality to become good CCs. It requires a complete skill set.
I support the F/Es for their plea.