For those that don't seem to understand how the company could handle closing UK bases and continue to fly from them.
There are already a number of very busy airports that are not bases, like eg BVA (Paris) many aircraft fly in and out, even through on a "W" pattern, but there in no ryanair staff employed there.
They could easily alter any UK base to operate in a similar fasion, with the exception of STN. This could however be seriously reduced in size, even crewed just with contractors. If there is a time for a union recognition battle, I don't think this is it. As I have already said, BALPA have everything to win and nothing to loose, We on the other hand, could risk loosing everything!