Balpa is a pilots union. Like it or hate it, its is a union of pilots and smart pilots will be represented by pilots
In the United States we have a spectacular example of what happens to skilled labor that gets represented by unskilled labor. That example is the a&p mechanics that work on the aircraft.
In the US they thought they would get stronger if they bonded with the ramp and bag smashers. "They said look at the numbers", we will have the power. Well by and large the bag smashers are now way overpaid and the mechanics are GROSSLY underpaid. The highest paid A&Ps would be the northwest mechanics under the contract that has yet to be paid, and we are still talking about 30 dollars an hour for the most senior mechanics.
Auto mechanics make more than that and they don't need an expensive a&p License.
If you pilots throw your skilled labor in with the unskilled labor, unskilled will be most grateful, and you will lose. That is why now you are starting to see independant aircraft mechanics unions in the US.
US pilots represented by the TEAMSTERS have never done will. That is why the UPS pilots left Teamseters and formed the IPA to represent them. 30 million members with nothing in common except for whom they pay dues to provides NO strength at all.
Good luck
Wino