Hi CH4
Not a BALPA fan myself but they were not helping a BA FO 'fly for a hobby', they were challenging BA's policy on (not) granting part time work to pilots.
JS was the first BA pilot willing to jump the legal hurdles to challenge the company for right to work on a part time basis.
Almost all BA pilots now on part time contracts have BALPA and our hobbyist FO to thank.
Cheers
Buter