The IPA is in fact two organisations or even three if you include IPA Financial Services or whatever they're called. The IPA is a company limited by guarantee the initials IPA stand for Independent Pilots Association. The IPF is supposed to be the registered trade union arm of the IPA. What does IPF stand for? Well it doesn't stand for Independent Pilots Federation or Independent anything. For a trade union to use the word independent in its' title it has to be well....independent! To be independent it would need a certificate of independence, which costs quite a lot. All the big unions BALPA etc are certified as independent. The IPF is not independent nor is it certified as such. For instance apparently you can't be in the IPF without being in the IPA.
Confusing isn't it ?
Last edited by Fordson Major; 21st Aug 2003 at 23:28.