What does BALPA *actually* do?
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What does BALPA *actually* do?
I'm taking a bit of a look at my finances, and I'm starting to wonder whether my £50 or so a month to BALPA is money well spent.
I know people talk about the "legal protection", blah blah blah, but: *what* legal protection? Why don't I just join the TGWU and pay £11/month for basic employee's rights insurance? What *extra* do I get for my £50/month?
At the moment, I'm in the fortunate position of not having to have used any of these "legal services" that I pay for. I do, however, reap all the benefits of having BALPA reps negotiate pay deals in my company. Which I'd get even if I wasn't a member.
So I'm considering resigning and just joining the TGWU instead. Why should I stay?
I know people talk about the "legal protection", blah blah blah, but: *what* legal protection? Why don't I just join the TGWU and pay £11/month for basic employee's rights insurance? What *extra* do I get for my £50/month?
At the moment, I'm in the fortunate position of not having to have used any of these "legal services" that I pay for. I do, however, reap all the benefits of having BALPA reps negotiate pay deals in my company. Which I'd get even if I wasn't a member.
So I'm considering resigning and just joining the TGWU instead. Why should I stay?
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I do, however, reap all the benefits of having BALPA reps negotiate pay deals in my company.
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Because the TGWU won't send a lawyer and a local representative to help you out if you stuff up in another country? It's a lonely place when you do, trust me.
Or using a wider example because if we all did that you'd have the TGWU negotiating your pay deals, not BALPA.
Or using a wider example because if we all did that you'd have the TGWU negotiating your pay deals, not BALPA.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Two instances.
One, a company trying to weasel out of paying redundancy to an awful lot of pilots. Sorted by BALPA and worth a lot of money.
Two, a company which tried to escape it's responsibility over loss of licence insurance. Sorted by BALPA and again worth an awful lot of money.
Either case would possibly have been fightable individually, but think of the possible legal costs if the claimant loses. BALPA was prepared to take the hit in both cases.
Worth every penny of those years of subs, and now I'm retired I still pay to be an associate member.
One, a company trying to weasel out of paying redundancy to an awful lot of pilots. Sorted by BALPA and worth a lot of money.
Two, a company which tried to escape it's responsibility over loss of licence insurance. Sorted by BALPA and again worth an awful lot of money.
Either case would possibly have been fightable individually, but think of the possible legal costs if the claimant loses. BALPA was prepared to take the hit in both cases.
Worth every penny of those years of subs, and now I'm retired I still pay to be an associate member.
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BarbiesBoyfriend
Well, if he is not doing the job you would like there is a solution.
Why don't you put yourself up for election/volunteer as a rep and presumably do a better job than him ???
The QUESTION above probably poses a few problems for yourself. Mind you I could be wrong!!!
Well, if he is not doing the job you would like there is a solution.
Why don't you put yourself up for election/volunteer as a rep and presumably do a better job than him ???
The QUESTION above probably poses a few problems for yourself. Mind you I could be wrong!!!
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Try £50 quid in the lottery.
Oops, sorry guys.
l`m pretty sure a line was drawn over that and we`re supposed to start afresh.
Mind you, the pension pot ......... no, a line was drawn. Even the Brymon pot ? yes.
l`m pretty sure a line was drawn over that and we`re supposed to start afresh.
Mind you, the pension pot ......... no, a line was drawn. Even the Brymon pot ? yes.
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Quite amazing to see all the whining going on on these boards about how all the T&C`s of the airline pilots are going downhill. No more respect for the pilots nowadays!
At the same time a lot of the posters in this thread are cancelling their membership of the union because it saves them 50 quid! Or because the union "doesn`t do anything for them personally".
I have news for you guys: the two are related! Just keep on walking away from the union and watch how that effects your T&C`s in the long run!
Just glad I work for an airline with over 95% pilot union representation.
At the same time a lot of the posters in this thread are cancelling their membership of the union because it saves them 50 quid! Or because the union "doesn`t do anything for them personally".
I have news for you guys: the two are related! Just keep on walking away from the union and watch how that effects your T&C`s in the long run!
Just glad I work for an airline with over 95% pilot union representation.
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Over 95%, good.
There is nothing new in this life. Start with the history of the first world war.
Some are called conchies. Your "union" is a threat to those not able to look after themselves. And, unfortunately, you don`t give a sh*t unless it involves erosion of your conditions.
That is the real threat.
55 year old "youngsters" who are not happy with a pension are prepared to work for nothing to keep going. This crap started years ago, and is the reason an ATPL is worth ****.
May l suggest you look inwards ?
ps, would you mind stopping that nodding head thing ? lt`s annoying the hell out of me.
Some are called conchies. Your "union" is a threat to those not able to look after themselves. And, unfortunately, you don`t give a sh*t unless it involves erosion of your conditions.
That is the real threat.
55 year old "youngsters" who are not happy with a pension are prepared to work for nothing to keep going. This crap started years ago, and is the reason an ATPL is worth ****.
May l suggest you look inwards ?
ps, would you mind stopping that nodding head thing ? lt`s annoying the hell out of me.
Last edited by non iron; 21st Nov 2009 at 11:22.
e28 driver
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It's all just politics really and with that you always get self interest.
Personally I'm glad I work in a BALPA recognised company and I'll continue paying my subsciptions to them as a professional body representing our interests in differents arenas, not just with employers.
I do suspect that BALPA represents British Airways pilots first and everyone else once their interests have been seen to but that's just the nature of the beast. They are the largest group of pilots and it just comes back to politics.
Personally I'm glad I work in a BALPA recognised company and I'll continue paying my subsciptions to them as a professional body representing our interests in differents arenas, not just with employers.
I do suspect that BALPA represents British Airways pilots first and everyone else once their interests have been seen to but that's just the nature of the beast. They are the largest group of pilots and it just comes back to politics.
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wee one.
Quite literally, you don't know what you are talking about.
The thread title is 'what does balpa actually do?'
Well, where I work, if the company forced a roster change on you during a trip, they had to pay you a 'disruption' payment. About £200.
Now, thanks to Balpas latest intervention, they don't.
Should I be grateful?
Quite literally, you don't know what you are talking about.
The thread title is 'what does balpa actually do?'
Well, where I work, if the company forced a roster change on you during a trip, they had to pay you a 'disruption' payment. About £200.
Now, thanks to Balpas latest intervention, they don't.
Should I be grateful?
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l am bereft of speech.
Unions
Pilots who are in unions
Pilots
Sorry I lost your drift in amongst the ranting.
BALPA isn't perfect by a long way, but what else is there. The IPA/F??? The TGWU??? The attitude of I'm OK the management won't screw me??? Please.
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Well, where I work, if the company forced a roster change on you during a trip, they had to pay you a 'disruption' payment. About £200.
Now, thanks to Balpas latest intervention, they don't.
Now, thanks to Balpas latest intervention, they don't.
I do suspect that BALPA represents British Airways pilots first and everyone else once their interests have been seen to
Last edited by tocamak; 21st Nov 2009 at 14:34.
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I've had legal advice for free from BALPA's lawyers. I've also taken out their Loss of Licence insurance, and I have to say they were extremely helpful when I needed to claim. I also know that in the companies I have worked in, whenever there has been any inkling of redundancies or detrimental changes to work practices, suddenly everyone is rushing to join BALPA. BALPA in each airline is down to the representatives. If you don't like who represents you, vote them out. However I don't think BALPA are able to override management decisions. If management want to enforce a certain condition then they will. But BALPA reps could influence them or find another way. I don't think BALPA reps purposely go out to reduce terms and conditions do they? And usually there is a vote, so the majority view is the one that is taken. That won't suit everybody all of the time of course. I have been on the receiving end of changes that I didn't like, but benefitted others in the workforce.
I know of a couple of pilots who were sacked and hastily joined BALPA hoping they would represent them.
Finally, (and I don't work for BALPA!), Big BALPA do do alot more than what we see. They attempt to influence at national and international level. They have many groups that are very active and try and oppose or change regulations that, for example, EASA (and JAR before them) may try and impose.
But it needs the members to support it. Most pilots want all the benefits but don't want to pay for them or contribute to helping. They just want BALPA to help them out when the worst happens.
Personally I look on it as insurance - expensive unless you need it.
I know of a couple of pilots who were sacked and hastily joined BALPA hoping they would represent them.
Finally, (and I don't work for BALPA!), Big BALPA do do alot more than what we see. They attempt to influence at national and international level. They have many groups that are very active and try and oppose or change regulations that, for example, EASA (and JAR before them) may try and impose.
But it needs the members to support it. Most pilots want all the benefits but don't want to pay for them or contribute to helping. They just want BALPA to help them out when the worst happens.
Personally I look on it as insurance - expensive unless you need it.
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I was a BALPA member for 8 years. I finally has reason to need their legal services and it took them 4 days to return my call. The advisor was then very vague as to whether I actually had a case or not. Another ten days passed with no communication from them, before I called them to be told they would not represent me because I had " No Case".
I ended up taking my employer to a employment tribunal myself, and won.
I shudder to think of the amount of money I have paid in subs.
The only competent person I have dealt with in BALPA was Maggie Peknic, who used to produce some excellent job hunting advice and guidance.
And I'm no longer a member!!!!!!
I ended up taking my employer to a employment tribunal myself, and won.
I shudder to think of the amount of money I have paid in subs.
The only competent person I have dealt with in BALPA was Maggie Peknic, who used to produce some excellent job hunting advice and guidance.
And I'm no longer a member!!!!!!
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What does BALPA actually do?
BALPA protects the rights, terms and conditions of BA mainline members at all costs, employees of other airlines, irrespective of the pro-rata numbers involved, get a lesser service, and in the case of any conflict between their members and BA they will be instantly deserted by BALPA.
As we have seen above, whether other individuals [or their airline] get any support or not is a lottery and cannot be relied upon.
Therefore whether the subscription [same contribution level for all, including BA] is deemed good value for money usually comes down to the individuals experience of BALPA. Personally, I would rather put £50 per month into Premium Bonds.
BALPA protects the rights, terms and conditions of BA mainline members at all costs, employees of other airlines, irrespective of the pro-rata numbers involved, get a lesser service, and in the case of any conflict between their members and BA they will be instantly deserted by BALPA.
As we have seen above, whether other individuals [or their airline] get any support or not is a lottery and cannot be relied upon.
Therefore whether the subscription [same contribution level for all, including BA] is deemed good value for money usually comes down to the individuals experience of BALPA. Personally, I would rather put £50 per month into Premium Bonds.
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When a certain charter airline I worked for went into administration just over a year ago Balpa wrote a letter to the government and promised to investigate the suspicious causes of the collapse.
Without meaning to sound bitter, they have done very little in the way of practical help to pilots out of work or investigating these suspicious causes.
Personally I'm not going to bother with BAlpa anymore.
Without meaning to sound bitter, they have done very little in the way of practical help to pilots out of work or investigating these suspicious causes.
Personally I'm not going to bother with BAlpa anymore.