MANBLK, where I currently earn my living is irrelevant but as you were asking, yes, the Caribbean this time of year is very nice thank you and being in a company that has almost total Balpa membership has its benefits. Speaking from experience, the only way to negotiate a decent package for the pilots is with a very high membership in Balpa and from that high membership, electing your representatives who, with help from Balpa negotiators, will bargain from a position of strength.
I am still waiting to hear from the sages that are advising that you join any union except Balpa and negotiate as an employee group together with the Cabin Crew and the office staff, about any other UK airline that has successfully done so. From what I can see from my lofty heights at Britains flag carrier is that all you are managing to do is spread false hope and utopian dreams on your fellow pilots. Please try and answer the following questions:
1. Name the starting pay and highest pay achievable for both F/O's and Captains at the top earning UK airline where the pilot membership is represented by the T&GWU?
2. Name the top earning UK airline where the pilots are jointly represented by a joint employee representative council and list the pay rises they have achieved over the last 3 years?
If you are happy to lose an opportunity to get your collective act together then so be it. Whether I make these observations from my lofty flight deck or the bunk behind it is irrelevant and all I am trying to do is point out that you are managing to divide your pilot workgroup and I always thought that was managements job!
