BALPA has something like an 80% membership, way higher than any other Union in the Country. It is not an irrelevance at all.
In fact it is Company Council/Member led so to say that this is a "union that is an irrelevance in the 21st century, but which cynically spins disputes to justify its existence." is utter rubbish, it just doesn't work like that in BALPA.
In fact in another dispute a few years ago the Union was very wary of allowing a Company Council to run an IA Ballot, which ended up being one of the best results in the Union history.
Good luck to you VA guys, our Profession is constantly under threat and we need to take a stand less we should all end up paying for our own transport and HOTAC, not being provided with even water let alone crew food..........