It is a free world. If the few posting here feel that BALPA is worthless then feel free to pocket your money.
I am pleased to see that recently the rules were changed to prevent people joining the day after they developed a problem and then being given much costly assistance.
No organisation is perfect and the dissatisfaction within the membership reached a peak, rightly or wrongly, during Mr. Darkes tenure and that was dealt with democratically.
I have been a member since the late '80s. Quite a lot of what they have negotiated I have voted against but on balance, in my company, they have done a very good job of representing me and the majority of the workforce.
Some of the wilder accusations are as unfair as they are untrue. I have yet to meet a representative from the current bunch not working hard and diligently for the common good.
I wouldn't do the job, not least because of the personal abuse they continually receive from those who should know better.
Shadowpurser,
BASSA are a dinosaur and ultimately are going to cause a great deal of grief for all of us. Their Arthur Scargill school of operarting is way past its sell-by date. Their newsletters are a disgrace, in content and attitude. CC89 seem more sensible but having two unions is in itself a disaster, especially as BASSA attack CC89 at every opportunity.
Ask yourself if you would be better off in a company with or without BALPA representation. If the answer is better without then keep it quiet because there will be a flood of applicants to join your altruistic management's version of Utopia!
I'll stick with BALPA thanks and happily pay my 1%. I think it is good value.
As I said it is a free world.
Last edited by M.Mouse; 4th March 2003 at 13:56.