Sid:
1) Where should BALPA draw the line for membership? Should flying instructors be allowed membership? Should solo CPLs flying Warriors on aerial photography trips be included? Should any CPL holder not actively engaged in commercial flying be included? The line has to be drawn somewhere, and in my opinion it should be limited to those with an ATPL engaged in airline flying. To do otherwise spreads resources too thinly and expands BALPAs reach into areas that they cannot effectively influence.
2) Sorry but I'm sticking to my guns on this one. Reading the threads on the BA forum gives little more than a general overview and a lot of reactionary comments from the grumpy old men. If you have the opportunity to speak personally to those involved and get the unabridged version you'll find it something of an eye opener. The BACC can rarely give the complete the full details on a public forum and this case was no different.
As a wise lawyer once told me, you go to the courts for law, not justice. Accordingly the BALPA legal team are in the business of law, not justice. If you want a union that seeks justice then it's a noble aim but it'll end up broke in no time at all. Whether you consider the
JS case 'just' or not, the fact remains that BA were outside the law, a member asked for assistance, the legal team agreed it was a winnable case and the case was won. Justice suggests a moral judgement. Should we be introducing moral judgements to our legal representation? If so, whose morals should they be? If a pilot fails a blood alcohol should BALPA defend them, or is justice served by leaving them to rot in a foreign prison? Tricky thing this justice don't you think?
3) A broadbrush public condemnation is a bold move and a lot of people would need convincing of it's merits. What purpose would it serve? Would airlines be shamed into changing? I doubt it. Would the public move their business to another airline? Unlikely. Would BALPA be left ranting and railing in a futile manner like a badly behaved child in a supermarket? Very probably.