Doug the Head - I do not accept your characterisation of BALPA's role in easyJet. Nor do I accept the view of catplaystation that there is a lack of cohesive response by BALPA to easyJet's plans. We have in excess of 70% membership and that is enough to fight a powerful rearguard action, but not enough to take on the company head-on over issues like seasonality. It is no coincidence that at Virgin and BA (95%+ membership?) these issues are simply not up for discussion. At Ryanair and Jet2, who have no effective union representation, absolutely anything is up for discussion! We are somewhere in the middle and - surprise, surprise - have a mediocre set of terms and conditions. There is a direct correlation between union represenation and achieving good terms and conditons.
To clear up a few myths - at easyJet BALPA are not in the pocket of the company. BALPA is, at the end of the day, a group of pilots chosen by their peers to go and fight on our behalf in the presence of our management. They are only as powerful as the mandate they are given. Also, BALPA has not squandereed all credibility with the workforce - they have won battle after battle that goes sadly un-noticed. The bottom line is this - if you do not join BALPA and fight with your colleagues you have lost the right to speak or raise a word of complaint about a single issue affecting your terms and conditions. When you decide to stand with your colleagues in a collective manner that helps them rather than hinders them, then you have a voice.
There is much that is right about easyJet and we should rejoice at that without resting on our laurels. Our union reps are fighting tooth and nail in a vicious fight with short-termist, bonus-hunting managers who have no real interest in the long-term viability of the airline. We simply must give them the ammunition to win that fight by joining BALPA.