I too have personal expereince of BALPA & the T & G...... I was one of the many who BALPA sold down the river after 911...I wouldn't give them the drippings off my nose...
At my next company we tried to entertain the T & G as our representatives & were also told "no - go to BALPA"!!!!
Having said that I remained a member as on a personal level they put the fear of god into management. I had cause to use them & whilst their approach as a group maybe like dinosaurs on an individual basis they made mincemeat of the company & my situation went no further. I know of at least 3 occasions where they turned up (flat cap & greyhound in tow..only joking!!!) but on every occasion they were successful in their defence of the individuals circumstances.
As a group forget it....individually they are happy to represent you, forcefully & with a huge amount of resources behind them