Chris Darke to be re-elected!!! Vote

[airrage]

Next in Line;

Not trying to pick apart your post just want my viewpoint to be clear.

You say..
"The decision on whether BA pilots will go on strike is taken by the BA cc reps after consultation with the line community, not by CD or the NEC (although it IS the NEC which gives the 'authority' - never refused). "

Does not a 95% strike vote count as clear consultation with our BA cc reps? Why was this not carried out as it surely was the will of the majority ? Nowhere in my post did I ever blame CD or the NEC directly, but the need for a change of BALPA's present fearful corporate culture is clearly apparent(unless you are pleased with the last 10years of degrading T&C's, hardly a reason for overwhelming support of present management). That change starts at the top-down since at the bottom of the rung(the local reps)do seem to be effective in covering the smaller local issues.

You also say;
"You will almost certainly have the opportunity to go on strike this year .."
That is not the end goal for which I protest. If it becomes inevitable to attain what is righfully ours then so be it, but I do not want to be counted as someone who rallies the group for a senseless strike. Change is necessary and I am willing to take things to their end-game(which is almost certainly not necessary as BA management as a selling point in Institutional briefings admit that they have a pilot workforce sub-mkt rate.) What I want is equality of standards with our peers(peers meaning the major International carriers). By attaining equality (40% less than N.American)this will also have a knock-on beneficial effect to other pilot groups pay within the UK.

JF's choice of residence is not my concern. Aside from not actually running to stay in the GS office(but only to find a suitable alternative), the fact that he has the financial intellect to save 1000's on taxes whilst probably improving his standard of living, only supports my belief that he is the kind of shrewd individual that we need at the moment. Whether he follows like a sheep to the slaughterhouse of the inland revenue or choses individually to protect his wealth is not of my concern, though as a capitalist rather than a communist, I can't help but respect his choice.