Callsign Kilo has it, back in 2006/7 IALPA wanted along with BALPA to go for a recognition vote. Support for this was as high as it had ever been, with much of that due to the initial success of REPA.
The head honcho at that time in BALPA dithered & said he couldn't countenance making that move until BALPA had appointed a full time officer to deal specifically with Ryanair. They proceeeded to advertise the post & offered (I was told) a somewhat derisory 6mth contract.
I think the basic fact of the matter is that BALPA did NOT underestimate the size of the challenge,rather, they basically didn't have the b@lls to tackle it.
Filed under "nasty boys/too difficult" . . . . . much better to concentrate on these nice chaps up at waterworld
