Good morning Cargo Boy,
I thank you for your input here, because I feel that you are genuinely concerned for us - and I mean this in all sincerity!
I agree with everything that you say. BALPA does indeed achieve the very best for its members.
BUT - it does need a majority pilot membership, say 70% minimum. If we could get that, BALPA it should be. The problem is, what proportion of Jet2 pilots, particularly debt-laden F/O's, are prepared to stump up 1%? If not enough, then it's a complete waste of time and big money.
There's also the problem that not everybody can be convinced that BALPA is a good thing. I for one have been stuffed by them in a previous life, though it wouldn't stop me joining.
Silverhawk sees benefits in having all flying staff, and indeed office staff, under the same roof so that we have a unified grip. I don't know whether this is a good idea or not, but I do feel that a new small airline in the North may need to develop differently from an established one in the South. Not everyone agrees with the philosophy that the pilots need to look after themselves alone. We have absolutely zero us-and-them on board, they are our mates. Some pilots don't necessarily want to sacrifice them for our benefit.
Finally, if we are forced down the T&G route simply because of the 1%, it has been suggested somewhere above that it's not irreversible. To try the T&G and see it fail us is probably the best way of getting everyone to join BALPA.