It wasn't actually cited as part of the Industrial Action, but BASSA did want an extra crew member in order to deliver this exhausting element of the service:

"Hot Towels - World Traveller Plus



29/01/09




You have no doubt seen details of BA’s latest “enhancement” to WT+ in this week’s Cabin Crew News. Yes, the hot towel!




Your TUs took part in trials and numerous discussions around enhancements to the service and offering in WT+. Throughout the discussions we constantly reminded BA that any change to the service in WT+ had to go hand in hand with discussions around increases in crewing levels. We also reminded BA that the service in WT+ was adjusted to reflect the fact that we lost a crewmember post 9/11. At that time, the service in WT and WT+ was streamlined so that for the purposes of catering and service routines, the 2 cabins were treated as one.




Your TU does NOT support the introduction of the hot towel in WT+ (or any other enhancement that is going to involve extra work or “passes” in the cabin) without a change to the crewing levels. If BA want to have a service comparable to other carriers in WT+, they should also think of giving us the comparable number of crew to carry out that service!"






http://www.uniteba.com/LGWLHRhottowels.html