As a practical demonstration of why a union is a good thing I would like to express my support for G-DAWG asking a perfectly reasonable question. Imagine if you had to personally negotiate lifestyle, pension, salary, benefits etc with someone with Brae's attitude every year.
Personally BALPA has been well worth my support. For starters I have inherited about £10K extra annual salary as a result of predecessors actions. They have since got me a £10K pension increase and thanks to them talking nicely to the tax man I get 2/3 of my subscription back in my tax allowance.
An absolute no brainer. Now if I should do something to upset my company I will absolutely need them.
Or should I just go it alone, save £120 a year and pocket the benefits gained by others. Might get a nice management job with that attitude. You decide?