BALPA are only as strong as their members. Having an "el whizzo" negotiator won't guarantee a RPI plus 50% wage rise and six days off per week. Unfortunately we have to accept that we live in the real world. For example, we have too many muppets who will pay for type ratings and work for free - which removes some of the bargaining tools (read big sticks) that negotiators used to pocess. But we must stick together to negotiate. Only by doing so can we can squeeze as many eggs as is possible from the goose that lays them. IMHO BALPA membership is the best way of doing that - as amateurish as it may seem at times.