Mr Solo:
(1) Re BALPA associate membership - you make some valid points. Where I think your analogy with engineers and comparison with PPLs/cadets etc falls down somewhat is this - flying instructors are commercial pilots in their own right. Though they don't fly airliners they fly for a living - my understanding was that BALPA was here to represent professional pilots' interests - not just Airline pilots. If you want to return to a pointless argument based on semantics then, ok, I'll fly a white flag!
(2) Rather condescending of you to suggest that my knowledge of the
JS case is that limited? I followed the thread on the BA company forum with some interest and seem to recall that there were some (apparently - maybe you know different?) very knowledgeable and detailed postings by those supporting the case. There were plenty of 'big brains' on there......At the beginning of it all, and after the 'successful' conclusion I was not convinced of the justness of the case - that is still my opinion. Employment law and the system by which that law is implemented found in favour of
JS/BALPA - doesn't make it right or just does it?
(3) At no point have I advocated a condemnation of any airline. A very public condemnation of the whole SSTR practice - well that's another matter!!!
In summary I would conclude with the following. I fully accept that BALPA does many good things and I pay my subs in good faith. That doesn't mean that there arn't many areas which couldn't be improved/addressed. I still find the general tone of your posts very dismissive - if you are a 4 striper I dread to think what the authority gradient is like on 'YOUR' flightdeck.