BALPA - Finally had enough

[Airbus Girl]

There always seems to be a BALPA attacking thread running on pprune just lately. BALPA do lots of stuff behind the scenes, but it is a pilot organisation and as such it does need pilots to volunteer their time and expertise, whether that be by unemployed pilots helping out in the office or experienced pilots helping out on one of the BALPA groups, such as the Medical group or Licencing and Training group. Unless you get involved with BALPA you wouldn't know just what does go on "behind the scenes". There are many fights being taken to Europe (and internationally) on UK pilots' behalf, but BALPA can only lobby to get things changed - they don't make the laws, and they can't tell airlines not to do things. They can certainly ensure they get involved with things - like when the MPL first was mooted, the suggestion was that new pilots would never actually see an aircraft until they got into the RHS of a jet, and then they wanted only a reduced hours PPL. BALPA's lobbying did help to increase the requirements, although they didn't manage to completely sink the idea because the CAA and the various companies intending to make alot of money from the idea were able to lobby and persuade the relevant people because they had not only the time but alot of money behind them. I guess if we all want our BALPA fees to double BALPA could do more.

BALPA also lobby the government about the ridiculous security issues, and hopefully these will continue to be eased - BALPA continues to put pressure on.

In the medical realm, BALPA again have been involved in UK and European legislation, ensuring that pilots are no longer grounded with every possible condition.

The NEC at BALPA have been working towards an agreement to ensure that no airline is disadvantaged by another airline's CC negotiating something for their own company's members.

There is much work going on behind the scenes - and I think that there are many ppruners who could be pro-active and volunteer their services to get even more done.

The working groups and the LOG board are all volunteers. There are full time employees at BALPA but most of those doing the work do it for free - so the more volunteers to help, the better.

BALPA could be stronger I guess, if all us pilots had the backbone to go on strike whenever any supposed "injustice" happens, but it won't happen. Pilots are a selfish bunch!!

Here is a scenario for you. You join a company and accept their pay and conditions. A few years later, you have the option to change your pension from final salary to money purchase. The company will give you a bung of money for this. Thinking of the £££s you decide to jump to the new pension. A few years later you realise that £££ in the short term doesn't equal £££s in the long term. So you complain to BALPA that your situation is entirely their fault. Justified?

Or, you join a company that doesn't have a seniority list. You are made redundant, quite legally. Should BALPA support you? Would you be willing to pay part of your subs to this person, if it wasn't you? Do you think they are going to win any legal battle?

I think we have to be realistic. Unless we as BALPA members are willing to be militant, we can't expect to have a militant union. Therefore the union can only get things done by negotiation, and negotiation doesn't always involve winning everything the union want.