Its time for Chris Darke to go!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Let us be very wary here. I am not foolish enough to think that BALPA offer a panacea for all ills but they are the best we have. Let us not turn on someone who represents us and publicly vilify him in this manner. If we have informed and legitimate complaints about his performance this is not the place to air them - write to him direct.
Washing our dirty linen in public will only encourage our employers to stand up all the more to BALPA and will be counterproductive. And by the way I have no office of any kind - I just pay my 1% like everyone else.
Washing our dirty linen in public will only encourage our employers to stand up all the more to BALPA and will be counterproductive. And by the way I have no office of any kind - I just pay my 1% like everyone else.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Genghis - the brutal truth is that yes, they may be "the best we have" but they are simply not good enough anymore. We pay our 1% and, therefore, we have a say in the direction of our union.
As one PPruner mentioned earlier, how many times have we been informed of serious issues requiring support but then we never hear anything about what transpires.
It is time to forget about this typical "Dunkirk spirit/ mustn't grumble" British attitude. CD works for us and should be held accountable to us.
As one PPruner mentioned earlier, how many times have we been informed of serious issues requiring support but then we never hear anything about what transpires.
It is time to forget about this typical "Dunkirk spirit/ mustn't grumble" British attitude. CD works for us and should be held accountable to us.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I remain a member only because of legal cover, and that I would feel very guilty to take the benefits(?) without contributing.
Hot Wings is right, however. We need to employ a hard nosed assassin who works hard for US and who does not cosy up to the management.
Hot Wings is right, however. We need to employ a hard nosed assassin who works hard for US and who does not cosy up to the management.
Guest
Posts: n/a
For me the 1% is for the legal cover, we all know what is the first enquiry after an incident - who's to blame?
Thats not a strange reason to be in a union which offers help in a crisis, thats good enough for me.
------------------
'Keep the Stress Down'
Thats not a strange reason to be in a union which offers help in a crisis, thats good enough for me.
------------------
'Keep the Stress Down'
Guest
Posts: n/a
I feel sure that, by now, someone will have drawn Chris Darke's attention to this thread. It would be nice if he were to offer some reassurance to the many unhappy Balpa members who have expressed their dissatisfaction here. Some indication that the "suits" at New Road are actually concerned about the views and worries of their members (as opposed to just the level of membership) would come as a pleasant surprise.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I agree with Ghengis McC and willoman with regard to excercising caution. It will hardly improve New Road's opinion of this site to vilify them here.
Basil, if I may quote from the Chairman's letter to members, dated 26 June 92, "You will by now be aware of the result of the ballot for the post of General Secretary and the election of Chris Darke, ...." (my emphasis). It is very common for a whole range of organisations to have paid positions to which the appointee must be elected by the members. Following election, normal employment regulations then apply, subject to the term of appointment which, in the case of GS, is 5 years,
Effendi, Mr Darke has never been a pilot. Most of his career has been devoted to being a professional union official.
Basil, if I may quote from the Chairman's letter to members, dated 26 June 92, "You will by now be aware of the result of the ballot for the post of General Secretary and the election of Chris Darke, ...." (my emphasis). It is very common for a whole range of organisations to have paid positions to which the appointee must be elected by the members. Following election, normal employment regulations then apply, subject to the term of appointment which, in the case of GS, is 5 years,
Effendi, Mr Darke has never been a pilot. Most of his career has been devoted to being a professional union official.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I remember when his past experience was listed, being a former member of the Communist Party, I thought then, what the hell is Balpa doing? We'd moved on in leaps and bounds with management and employee relationships by the early 90's. Well that may have been the case in my previous company. Apparently not in the Shell Suit outfit, it's just like going back to the very dark Victorian age. They have an unbelievably dictatorial bullying management directed from above. It seems the style in other accountant lead airlines today as well. Chris Darke did a deal with the Shell Suit outfit in order to gain their pilots onto Balpa books. The ex Leisure guys have paid for it since and still are. Despite TUPE employment regulations, the ex Leisure terms and conditions have been and still are being eroded by the bean counters of the parent company. There still is no recognition agreement despite the overwhelming vote for Balpa since last September. At the end of the day Chris Darkes' Balpa is not on ours or anyone else's side other than his own. He appears to be a political animal no better than bottom line airline management who think and work in a similar manner. Balpa, lead by Chris Darke, is a greedy money grabbing organisation that preys on our legalistic vulnerability in this litigious business we are in today. My vote is....GO
[This message has been edited by PPRuNe Towers (edited 26 March 2001).]
[This message has been edited by PPRuNe Towers (edited 26 March 2001).]
Guest
Posts: n/a
Prior to XF/O 1-11's posting I was getting ready to defend Mr Darke. You know - saying something like " we do really need to pay £75 K or more to get anyone with credibility, integrity, determinartion and polished negotiating experience."
BUT seeing the size of his increases when we end up with inflation plus 0.2 percent (whatever!) makes me see red!
BUT seeing the size of his increases when we end up with inflation plus 0.2 percent (whatever!) makes me see red!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Folks,
Far be it from me to criticise Dark Chris's salary. Good luck to him.
Doesn't seem to be helping you get what you all deserve, though. Think about it, where are BALPA's priorities?
Why would you NOT want an airline pilot running a pilot's union? Surely you'd all want someone who could confidently say they'd been there, done that and got the T-shirt.
Maybe it's time to pull your heads out of that brown cloud.
dd
Guest
Posts: n/a
Sklord - let me ask you a question. "If the IPA were an alternative - do you think that would strengthen or weaken BALPA?"
DD - I quite agree with you. However some BALPA members are surprised that he seems to be proficient at negotiating increases in his own pay - wheras BALPA have failed in recent years to get significant increases for members.
(For the record, my own view is that this "failure" is an outcome of a lack of any real determination within the pilot workforce.
Eg we are all familiar with the views of some pprune posters; who beleive that we are simply not worth any more pay. This is supplemented by those idiots who actually beleive that; some airlines (low cost ones?) can't afford to pay above inflation increases!!!)
DD - I quite agree with you. However some BALPA members are surprised that he seems to be proficient at negotiating increases in his own pay - wheras BALPA have failed in recent years to get significant increases for members.
(For the record, my own view is that this "failure" is an outcome of a lack of any real determination within the pilot workforce.
Eg we are all familiar with the views of some pprune posters; who beleive that we are simply not worth any more pay. This is supplemented by those idiots who actually beleive that; some airlines (low cost ones?) can't afford to pay above inflation increases!!!)
Guest
Posts: n/a
knows
I would think it will weaken BALPA unfortunately.
However there is no question that an awful lot of non BA pilots will not join BALPA because of a perceived pro BA pilots stance and BALPA's poor record when it comes to non BA matters (Danair, flagging out, BA using US 737 pilots, etc.)
I regret any weakening of BALPA but surely a choice of Unions will hopefully increase the total number of pilots who join one.
If there was no demand for a choice and everyone was happy with BALPA then this situation would not have arisen - and to some extent it is a situation that CD has allowed to come about.
I would think it will weaken BALPA unfortunately.
However there is no question that an awful lot of non BA pilots will not join BALPA because of a perceived pro BA pilots stance and BALPA's poor record when it comes to non BA matters (Danair, flagging out, BA using US 737 pilots, etc.)
I regret any weakening of BALPA but surely a choice of Unions will hopefully increase the total number of pilots who join one.
If there was no demand for a choice and everyone was happy with BALPA then this situation would not have arisen - and to some extent it is a situation that CD has allowed to come about.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: U K
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The IPA can never be a viable alternative to BALPA due its total lack of resources. Say 1600 full members at £60 per year is only £96000. That's hardly enough to sustain an office and secretary let alone be a player on the world stage.
At least I get a copy of the BALPA accounts each year. I haven't received any from the IPA since I joined.
Many UK pilots, like me, are members of both organisations. Anybody who lobbies on our behalf has got to be good. No one else is going to do it thats for sure.
At least I get a copy of the BALPA accounts each year. I haven't received any from the IPA since I joined.
Many UK pilots, like me, are members of both organisations. Anybody who lobbies on our behalf has got to be good. No one else is going to do it thats for sure.
Guest
Posts: n/a
"Why would you NOT want an airline pilot running a pilot's union? Surely you'd all want someone who could confidently say they'd been there, done that and got the T-shirt."
CD is the General Secretary, a paid employee; he doesn't (or shouldn't) "run" BALPA. That is done by a National Executive Committee and its Chairman, all elected and all flightcrew.
CD is the General Secretary, a paid employee; he doesn't (or shouldn't) "run" BALPA. That is done by a National Executive Committee and its Chairman, all elected and all flightcrew.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: U K
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He does what the NEC instructs him to do while they are off doing the day job and then reports back.
He uses his political and industrial contacts to lobby on our behalf and to influence decisions made in the Industry and by Goverment that affect all of us. He has to think stategically i.e. about long term trends.
He is up for election soon and if another candidate is put up or the current incumbant finds a better job or retires then there will be a choice.
He uses his political and industrial contacts to lobby on our behalf and to influence decisions made in the Industry and by Goverment that affect all of us. He has to think stategically i.e. about long term trends.
He is up for election soon and if another candidate is put up or the current incumbant finds a better job or retires then there will be a choice.