bleating about what did or didn't happen when other pilots were laid off is unproductive. Two points here:
One, a union can and will only do what it is instructed to do by its members in that airline, and what it can legally achieve. If redundancies are going to happen in an airline, then in most cases there is little that can be done as that is the airline's right. If a union is fully engaged with the company, and clearly this is the case in Thomson, then WITH THE BACKING OF ALL THE PILOTS it is possible to mitigate, or in the Thomson case, avoid redundancies as the pilots looked after the vulnerable individuals by agreeing to a small paycut to save jobs. This is, of course, after years of decent pay rises negotiated with the assistance of BALPA, which contrasts rather markedly with the massive reduction in RYR salaries against inflation since 2000.
Two, making statements such as 'what are THEY' going to do once Balpa are voted in' is completely false. Balpa are a reflection of the pilots will and in fact, are merely the legal backing and protection for a group of ryanair pilots who have decided 'enough is enough' and are trying to do something about it. It is not a question of whether RYR pilots get behind their union, more a question of whether RYR pilots get behind the other pilots and try to change the poisonous working culture and atmosphere that exists. This is why the slogan is 'Dignity and Respect', because without demanding respect, the company can get away with treating pilots like !!!!.
Basically, all it takes is for RYR UK based pilots to grow a pair, see that the company is full of bull and bluster, and stand with their fellows. Are you man or woman enough to do that, or are you going to tuck your tail between your legs and take your year on year paycuts while the company makes profits in the hundreds of millions.....
Over to you!