400 Hertz:
Go and play with your spanners!
Special 25:
I understand your frustration with BALPA but without them we (BHL)are going no-where. No one has been more vociferous than me when speaking/communicating with our Balpa C.C. especially after the last 2 ballots which were, quite honestly, handled appallingly. However, we must hope that they have learned from the past mistakes and the signs are that they have. What they need now is our TOTAL support. When we all refuse this insult of a pay offer, our CC will have a lot more power to their elbow when they go back for round 2 talks. Read between the lines. "The Company Council has AGREED to recommend to its members". To me that suggests we didn't want to but this is the end of the road on round 1 of negotiations. Wording such as "we strongly recommend" again would be obvious.
Of course we must bother with the ballot paper. It is for that very reason last year that the CC accepted the 2000 pay offer. Lack of returned ballot papers left them as a toothless tiger. If we give them 100% return and a no vote they can go into the next meeting firing from the hips. You are quite right legitimate "working to rule" will hurt and we should ALL be doing it NOW. Sod the extra few hundred quid this month think about long term. Yes a Flu bug in the middle of summer could work wonders for our cause but for christ sake make it look legit because it is a dangerous path to tread.
Diffng/Chopperman: I couldn't agree more and believe me some of us are trying to encourage our colleagues down the safe path of "united we stand divided we fall". BALPA is the only organisation where we can unite with strength.
BHL Staff: Yes our union dues are expensive but let's give it our best shot this year. Believe me we CAN take on the oil companies and win. If your not in BALPA, join now. Make sure New Road know your address and vote no to this derisory offer.