Agree with that and the rest of your post completely. People who walk out of work at the drop of a hat are one thing. Staff who really feel they have no alternative - especially if the company is trying to unilaterally alter contracts agreed between both parties - is quite another. It's sad to see people so infected by this customer-is-always-right, service at all costs mentality that they can't appreciate just how people react when they approach the end of their tether.

Strike action hurts everyone, but faced with a management who really won't listen and negotiate, it's a basic human right to be able to withdraw labour as part of seeking a negotiated settlement. As many have said, we don't know the full story yet. If one side can't keep to a contract, why should the other side be forced to? But clearly some here have ideological issues with the right to withdraw labour itself. You have the right not to use BA and go to an airline with better labour relations if you want - why see a strike as a personal attack?