I know it's airline specific but I would be really interested as an observer to know what is going down at VS re BALPA & The PPU.
I have read that PPU now have a significant portion of the pilots as members and there is even talk of the PPU gaining a recognition agreement and BALPA potentially not being the recognised union for Virgin Pilots in the UK.
I have also read there is concern that if this happened then some people perceive the current terms and conditions would disappear in a puff of smoke ?
Do your current agreements e.g. Scheduling pay rostering etc all form part of your contracts of employments or are they not quoted in the terms of employment and could be pulled the moment BALPA is not the recognised airline ?
I understand where all this has come from having read the Ewing report and a few other things, bit would just like to understand if what is being suggested elsewhere is a real risk, or is it just that it is the risk of the new recognition agreement within the PPU would not be as thorough covering all areas as current recognition agreements do ? Surely a pilots current employment terms, through printed or custom and practice can't just disappear because the employee association changes ?
I have no axe to grind,have no agenda and am purely interested in the facts regarding the situation please. Whilst I'm sure it's not the most comfortable place for Balpa as an association I can't deny that I think competition in any sector is a bad thing for ensuring customers (in this case pilots) get value for money.
In every other aspect of daily life we seek the best deals we can and if we feel a provider is not providing we switch, but we check we are comparing like for like and the downside of any move vs the upside (risk v reward).
Thanks for reading and I look forward to factual information if anyone would be so kind.
Please don't let this become a BALPA OR PPU mud slinging thread.
Ps I apologise if there is already a public thread on this, I couldn't find it.