Thank you redsnail. I don't recall that being the case in the UK airline I flew for at the time, but I might be mistaken. Looking at the state of the industry now though, with some airlines - including the one you mentioned, charging pilots £8,000 to be offered a job in a non UK base, (I am both type-rated and experienced); we don't stand up for very much. I chose to walk away.
There is a big contrast between aviation and broadcasting unions.