One point not made in the RBS note is that if there is a ballot for industrial action, the union will have to call a strike within 28 days of the result being announced, which is well before the February court case on the legality of the changes in dispute.

If Unite/BASSA call a strike over changes that are subsequently found to be legal they risk a massive damages claim from BA that will bankrupt them. Looking at their comments on expecting a legal challenge on the ballot, I wonder if BA will call Unite/BASSA's bluff and wait for them to announce strike dates before seeking an injunction.

It does seem that Unite/BASSA have been backed into a corner.