For your info, the ALAE has a website at
ALAE
From here you can join the ALAE cost £52/year there are e-mail links to the office, it even has it's own forum, job adverts etc....
As far as I am aware the co you work for has no choice but to talk to any union if the majority of the LAE's are members of a particular union. The ALAE has a legal department and WILL represent you if you are fully paid up.
They have also held recruitment/awareness seminars at schools/colleges to try and make people interested/aware of the Aircraft Engineer. It issues a monthly magazine with all sorts of info, which is published monthly, it is run by practicising or retired Engineers so people that know what we are about.
Go on give it a go and spread the word, you never know you may benefit from it. You can also become a member if you are not a LAE.