The problem with Balpa is that it is still essentialy the British Airways Line Pilots' association. (Tin helmets on as the usual suspects choke on their cheese boards and reach for their jewel encrusted keyboards)
Errr.....no, BA members are and have been a minority for some years.
It was hijacked by an elite and priviledged(sic) minority of top earners who were infuriated at the liberalisation of its appeal to a broader base. Result, the reforming chairman was kicked out and we now have high profile campaigns at vast expense about lifting the pension cap to nearly two million pounds and absolutely not a breath about the very many poor cousins who will be lucky to stay out of poverty in retirement.
Two points the merits, or rather lack of, of Chris Darke have been done to death. The present General Secretary is a breath of fresh air. The pensions cap would, at a guess, have affected probably 25%+ of the BALPA membership, who also happen to have and continue to pay the highest subscriptions. Doesn't affect me but a legitimate campaign and cost effective campaign.
Legal representation to my certain knowledge has been absolutely abysmal and the resources of the most talented principal negotiators are stretched to the limit..
Your certain knowledge is about as accurate as the rest of your rather pathetic diatribe. Prior to the removal of Mr. Darke the method of deciding the merits or otherwise of a legal case was poor and inconsistent. That has changed and I can think of several people who have been grateful for BALPA's support, Ms. J. Starmer for instance - hardly a user of a jewel encrusted keyboard.
yes, there has been change and the "log" looks impressive but the issues which interest the plutocratic elite who hold sway are of little relevance to hack regional and low cost pilots.
You obviously do not read 'The Log' or if you do it is a different one from the one I read or is it not sufficiently puerile?
What is stopping the floodgates opening and abandonment so richly deserved en mass is the fact that the IPA cannot offer the hands on Industrial support on a day to day basis that Balpa supposedly provides.
If BALPA, by implication, doesn't provide industrial support then why stick with them? Not, per chance, because, for all its good work and reputation, the IPA cannot hold a candle to BALPA in terms of resources and influence?
It is chicken and egg situation but if enough join then it would have the resources to blow Balpa out of the water as there would not be a single reason for staying with it.
No loss of members to the IPA will just make BALPA less effective. The IPA will remain a poor alternative with little real clout for a long time to come.
(Ear plugs in for the squeals of protest).
No squeals more a rolling of the eyes in despair at the short sighted, rather ignorant posts by people such as yourself.