As there has been some response to my post please let me reply -
To Paul Rice - I did not attempt to "front" BALPA, it was a generalisation about unions, no specific one in mind. Indeed it was a sustained campaign by TUC affiliated unions, of which BALPA is NOT one, which kind of blows your point 4 out of the water and decreases your credibility in my mind, that brought the full recognition to this equal pay legislation. Main unions were T&G (now Unite), Unison and USDAW, sorry if I've missed any. As an aside, the Act was passed in 1970 (under a Labour government) and came into force in 1975.
2. "Protection against Erosion of Terms and Conditions this is a BALPA failure not an achievement.". If you would like to give specific examples I am sure someone may come along and argue it. I was talking in general union terms, not specifics. I am personally quite happy with my union's defence of my conditions, perhaps that is because we have many stood in the wings ready to take over if need be therby keeping our elected officers sharp. There may be a lesson there.
3. P2F is quite legal and sod all any union can do about it. Sorry, that is reality, something that frequently eludes those with a bee in their bonnet. I wish it wasn't so too.
4. From the Guardian 24/01/10 "The joint general secretaries of Unite, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, have asked Barber to discuss the issue with Balpa, which is not affiliated to the TUC." Sorry for reality to intrude again.
5. There is another post on this thread which puts the legal mind succinctly along the lines of "I don't give a toss how much you have paid but your case is a crock of sh1t and any judge not beyond a coma would throw it out"
So far we are not doing well here are we?
To Bruce Wayne asking why have a dog and bark yourself. If you consider the dog to be such as the AA or RAC etc you would be right but it is the wrong analogy, you are not the dog but you ARE BALPA if a member, you don't join a football team to sit on the sidelines while they score goals, unions are no different.
If I have put the last part badly I apologise but hope you get my drift.