The problem with all these very fine philosphical debates is that they fail to take account of the rather obvious concern that management will have in that if they now slide this debate into settlement (having already taken the next weekend hit) rather than let it ride until a conclusion however bloody, means that management have simply delayed a head-on with BASSA until some unknown point in the future and then how will they deal with a "strengthened" BASSA in the next silly dispute. Anything other than a strike will be sold as a win for BASSA and make them even worst next time round. Most of the cost of the first strike has already been lost. They'll be an even greater drift-back the following weekend. So where is the incentive to settle. It's now about damage limitation and the statements will be a hoot - unless BASSA give considerable ground and it becomes very obvious that it is a full climb-down for BASSA.

Bringing it to a head now regardless of the immediate cost will be better from a management perspective than stacking unknown issues for the future.