nastynik

I found the following Press Release on the IPA website at Welcome to the IPA.

There is also a great new video from their chairman.

The IPA continues to grow.




PRESS RELEASE – IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IPA LAUNCHES NEW ENHANCED MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

Tuesday, November 14, 2011

The UK pilot union, the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) has launched a new enhanced membership campaign today aimed at increasing its membership numbers from within the professional pilot community.

Campaign release statement

Do you want to be part of a UK pilot association and union run by pilots for pilots?

A pilot association and union that delivers effective representation for professional pilots and whose driving principle is to protect flight safety improve pilots’ professional standing and salaries and to promote British aviation.

The Independent Pilots Association (IPA) is that association/union.

The IPA. Run by pilots for pilots.

We have listened to an ever growing number of professional pilots tell us they want an alternative choice and that they want that choice now.

We have listened and we have made changes.

Pilots run the IPA and remain in control of their union at all times.

We do not, nor will we, have a secretariat running your union.

Our union is run by pilots, for pilots. It’s that simple.

The IPA contributes expertise towards the development of British and international aviation safety standards.

The IPA regularly makes submissions to government and safety authorities to ensure the interests of IPA members are recognised and effectively represented.

The IPA as an Association was formed as a consequence of extremely poor support and representation in a time of great need, following the collapse of Air Europe in 1991.

Over the subsequent 20 years, the IPA has grown considerably, as more and more professional pilots have come together to make a difference and protect the values of our profession.

The IPA doesn’t have crippling overheads.

We didn’t recently have to pay over UK£ 1.6 million of your money into an employees’ pension fund.

We don’t pay our General Secretary £140,000 (or anything close to that).

The IPA invests in research and projects that make a difference to your working environment and lifestyle.

The IPA is very active on vital issues like employment, training, pilot fatigue, flight safety, and protecting the core values of being a professional pilot.

The issues that affect you.

The IPA protects and improves employment conditions for our pilot members.

IPA members, from the 1st January 2012, will also be provided with a discount card that will give them unique discounts on an extensive range of relevant products and services. These range from favorable rates on health care, discount on new cars to reduced rates on luxury hotels and restaurants.

How does the IPA make a difference?

The IPA as a founding member, hosted the inaugural meeting of the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE) in 2006. The GCAQE is global coalition of health and safety advocates committed to raising awareness and finding solutions to poor air quality in aircraft. The GCAQE has secured over US$1.5 million of research to date, ensuring much needed data and change occurs.

The IPA alongside other international pilot and cabin crew unions continues to make a difference, a very large difference.

The IPA is building partnerships and affiliations both domestically and overseas. This will give our members global support and global reach.

Time for change?

The IPA has listened to you, professional pilots who want a solid, alternative, choice.

We have re-positioned our structure and funding to actively obtain further recognition in companies throughout the industry.

Join the IPA today, have the effective representation you demand and deserve.

Ensure that your subs are directed to resolving issues that affect you, ensure your money is put entirely into protecting your needs (and not diverted into propping up crippling pension funds).

Our income is spent on our reason for being, you, the professional pilot.

Join the IPA today.

Make and feel the difference.

To join the IPA visit our website at Welcome to the IPA

One of the founding members of the Independent Pilots Association stated today:

“The IPA core value has always remained pilots looking after pilots. This has continued since our inception nearly 20 years ago in 1992 and continues today.”

“Our membership continues to grow. In the last few months for example our membership in Virgin Atlantic has doubled.”

For more information contact the Chairman or General Secretary on: 01444 441149

The Independent Pilots Association
The Old Refectory
The Priory
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 3LB

Tel: 01444 441149
Fax: 01444 441192

office@ipapilot.com








END

Hoggtart

I have been a member of the IPA for some 17years, they have always been there for me and as the press release states they are a professional body representing professional pilots. I have never found BALPA to be as helpful and aside from the difference in how the two organisations charge the IPA on a fixed and fairly modest fee and Balpa on a percentage of salary. It is interesting to note that the running costs of the IPA are a fraction of Balpa, mainly because the IPA management do not pay themselves huge amounts or indeed give them selves final salary pensions!
Well done IPA you continue to have my support!

fmgc

In how many Companies is the IPA recognised under a formal Recognition Agreement.

BALPA however is recognised in many (over 20ish) airlines.

Trouble is that the IPA has no negotiating power with the Airlines and doubt that they ever will.

Mind you having seen what has just happened in VS it would seem that unless you are BA then there is no point being a member of BALPA either.

Dream Buster

Here is BALPA General Secretary on the issue of contaminated cabin air in 2005:


and the conference proceedings:

http://www.aerotoxic.org/download/do...005%5B1%5D.pdf

All deeply embarrassing for BALPA. Shame on them.

Good for the IPA, a Union which is actually prepared to represent it's members interests and stand up and be counted.

DB

Basil

Dream Buster,
I don't understand your comment. Could you explain?

M.Mouse

Why is BALPA only relevant if you are in British Airways when BA members are a minority of overall BALPA membership?

SpeedHumpCat

Unions, yep-yep, look at what a WONDERFUL job they are doing for Qantas pilots?!

Dream Buster

Basil,

As you can see in 2005 BALPA identified a serious risk of ill health in their members but then promplty 'put the lid on it' when they realised just how big and serious the problem IS.

But the IPA - to their eternal credit - have continued to back research into contaminated air in airliners and put their members interests first.

Here is a comment from Flight Interntational's David Learmount who has been following the issue with growing conviction over the years.

UK pilot unions in turf war

At least the IPA have allowed the Aerotoxic Association the freedom to advertise in their Skypointer magazine (for free), whilst BALPA's Log has banned any advertsing.

What does that tell you?

It's all very embarrassing for BALPA and mostly - unbelievable.

Aerotoxic Association - Support for sufferers of Aerotoxic Syndrome for more on the 'Best kept secret in Aviation'

DB

Flypuppy

Neither IPA nor BALPA have done a thing to prevent the spread of paid for type ratings and P2F schemes. The erosion of T&C'S that have led from this has not been addressed in any way shape or form by either organisation.

Sciolistes

Flypuppy,

From the IPA websit.
The IPA asked for opinions on this issue. A post was put up in TofE, I don't remember a single reply here. I have no idea how many contacted the IPA on the issue.

Flypuppy

I contacted both the IPA and BALPA about this issue in 2002 and got no response from the IPA and a mealy mouthed letter from Christ Darke about market forces and protecting the majority ( whatever that means).

I contacted both organisations again in 2004, but got no response from either organisation then.

Sending a letter of concern to the CAA is hardly going to have airline managers quaking in their in their boots, is it?

shortfinals

Flypup, what do you suggest would have the airline CEOs quaking in their boots? The threat of physical violence?

What the airlines are doing is unpalatable but legal. The unions have no power here whatsoever. Striking to change the airlines' recruiting practises would be successfully challenged in the courts, so any industrial action would be illegal.

But you have ideas? Let's hear them, and we'll all join you to stop this lamentable practice.

Flypuppy

Take the railway industry as an example of how the unions there seem to manage to protect their members interests and t&c's.

I can't remember the last time a group of pilots ever went on strike in the UK, but that would most certainly have airline CEOs quaking in their boots.

shortfinals

Flypup - except the striking pilots would be slammed up for contempt of court when they defy the injunction against industrial action.

Okay, if all the pilots in the country were slammed up, that would inconvenience the airline CEOs for as long as it took to hire replacements from the EU and elsewhere.

Get out of your armchair and go and lead the revolution!

Flypuppy

I am no longer an active commercial pilot, I work in an airline but earn more and can plan my weekends. I could see where the industry was going back in 2002 and my opinions were well documented on PPRuNe at the time but no one seemed to agree at that point.

I'll leave it to the BALPA and IPA members to man the barricades and fan the flames of revolution.

angelorange

A recent example where pilots in one company were asked which union they wanted to represent them: BALPA/IPA/Prospect? Majority voted IPA. Although the company refused to recognise IPA (pre company take over, an existing agreement for Prospect with other employees apparently TUPE'd across, although Prospect had no interest in Pilots concerns), IPA have kept Company honest and pay has increased of late.

A friend in another company (which reognised BALPA but had illegal bonding issues) joined IPA and had post temp employment bond removed with permanent position after IPA intervention.

However, they are smaller outfit than some. If you (worker/workforce) are willing, they are willing to pursue issues that larger Unions prefer to ignore. And no Self Funded Type rating adverts in their literature (unlike BALPA)!

Elephant and Castle

IPA has no teeth and are as useful as a bamboo shotgun. Speaking from experience here.

Firestorm

Well said Flypuppy. I had the same conversations with both organisations at about the same time as you. I withdrew my support and money for BALPA in favour of the IPA. the reason for my choice is that IPA would at least answer the telephone and enter into conversation about the subject of pay to fly amongst other things.

I can not imagine any other profession that would have allowed proliferation of such a practice. Pay to fly has changed aviation from a proud to profession to a hobby for the rich. It is scandalous and ridiculous.

Basil

Dream Buster,
Ah, OK, thank you.
I haven't read the Imperial College 2005 report so can't comment.
When I've time I'll read through it.

Must say, when I fly, it's probably the toxic drinks imbibed which do the greater harm

Oliver Sudden

Come on Hoggtart - you are a Director of the IPA - so no surprise you support them!!

Trust they are supporting you at this difficult time.