nutjob,
I take your point, but I suspect BASSA would be loathe to admit to any lack of knowledge, and therefore loathe to invite outside experts in, who would certainly contradict their narrow views. I believe the BA BALPA team have some extremely clever chaps, with financial knowledge that makes you wonder why they don't work in the City! But, of course, BALPA uses outside experts when, and as, required.
The main difference is that BALPA is a national organisation, BASSA is not. BASSA is so focussed on itself (and by that I mean it seems to focus on the hierarchy, rather than the coal-face workers and reality) that is utterly clueless about the bigger picture. Utterly clueless. BALPA can at least call on national (and international!) experience. But that is why BALPA costs its members 1% of their pensionable salaries ..........