As someone who endured the whole pathetic mess that was BAs attempt to establish itself with BA Connect etc...as a regional force to be reckoned with, let me give a word of advice about the effectivness of Balpa.
Notwithstanding base closures, redundancy, arbitrary dictats and progressive erosion of such little terms and conditions that we had Balpa was consistently totaly useless. They are under resourced in terms of both competent staff and money and when it came down to supporting an individual at an industrial Tribunal or with personal issues I know of many occasions when they just turned their backs.
I come to this view having once been a passionate supporter and believer in Balpa and represented colleagues on our company council.
Make no mistake the gaining of recognition for Ryanair would be seen as a major coup for the General Secretary and of course a most welcome infusion of desperately needed funds.......
In terms of benefit to individual members........forget it. I can think of at least one major carrier who has recognition but the CEO as good as ignores Balpa who have thereby become irrelevant to whatever plan he chooses to enact.
Those of you championing the cause at RA are I am afraid on a hiding to nothing. I wish for your sakes it was otherwise........but that is the reality.