A very salient example supporting BALPA membership Kegbuster. People take heed.
All those people putting BALPA down have to remember that no union will cater for every eventuality or circumstance. Memebership does not grant you world-wide immunity from prosecution or give you total job security. I accept that it is not cheap and they can sometimes seem to be doing not a lot. But they can be there when you really need them. It is worth the money when one considers the true risks of not being a member.
And with regard to your own airlines, any improvements will only come about by efforts of individuals committed to their own company councils. Even then any improvements will only come about through a lengthy period of negotiations. Support your CC and BALPA by joining and helping them.