You are obviously still wet behind the ears 100%rpm. "Working to rule" is a concept which died with the mining industry. Above all it hurts our customers who are our life blood. If you think you can hold the oil industry to ransom you might as well pretend you are King Canute. Grow up and join the real world. Apart from anything else, what rules are you not already working to?
What BALPA CAN do is to responsibly put forward the facts to the oil industry in a constructive manner which will take our customers with us and not alienate them. The oil industry does not fully understand the problem. BALPA needs to go to UKOOA (the oil companies representative body) and put forward the facts as they are and the consequences of the skills shortage if nothing is done. BALPA needs to be seen to be on UKOOA's side if there is any hope of improving the situation.
If BALPA acts in a responsible and constructive way then we have a much better chance of improving the working conditions and consequently retaining and attracting a quality workforce (and a quality management).
Lets not fall back into the 1970's style of union vs employer conflicts - it never did anyone any good.