Inveritas ... you've missed the point.
The idea of a BALPA petition is to demonstrate support for union recogntion. At the next stage, the petition will then be presented, along with other information, to the tribunal board. If enough pilots, both members and non members, have signed up to it, and shown a preference for union recognition, the board has the authority to impose it without the requirement for a ballot.
It's got nothing to do with Pelican crossings.