There is a real issue here. I am just about to start at easyJet and am not now a BALPA member (long story....). If I truly believed that BALPA could make a difference I would reluctantly rejoin and pay the very steep monthly payments required.
I do, however, have good reasons for believing that BALPA membership will never rise to the 70+% level required to be effective. The prime reason is that the ever-growing presence of large numbers of non-UK pilots working for easyJet guarantees that there will never be high membership. BALPA, as its name suggests, is there to represent the interests of British airline pilots. With so many non-UK pilots working for easyJet, how will BALPA ever be in a position to represent them? As easyJet's expansion into Europe rather than the UK continues, the preponderance of non-UK nationals can only increase. It is completely unrealistic to expect these guys and gals to join BALPA. It seems to me that BALPA will only get weaker at easyJet and not stronger as is clearly required. This is a genuine point and if someone can convince me otherwise I will look at rejoining. At this juncture, however, I truly believe the best interests of easyJet pilots would be served by a Pilots' Council which is truly representative of all pilots and not just the union members.
I am looking for a balanced and rational reply here folks - not some deranged or abusive pro/anti union rambling. Many thanks.