Next thing you know, people will be paying for peerages. Then where would we be?:=

Just look at which U.K. employers have good BALPA representation and a good company council.

Those are the ones you might want to work for.

Great idea, but none of them are hring.

Hi CH4

Not a BALPA fan myself but they were not helping a BA FO 'fly for a hobby', they were challenging BA's policy on (not) granting part time work to pilots.

JS was the first BA pilot willing to jump the legal hurdles to challenge the company for right to work on a part time basis.

Almost all BA pilots now on part time contracts have BALPA and our hobbyist FO to thank.

Cheers

Buter

It is indeed a democracy. It is better for these embittered people to remain outside BALPA, along with the crafties who avoid membership whilst being perfectly happy to benefit from the contract enhancements that BALPA may negotiate in their companies! Just think what unpleasantness they may get up to, and what their negative attitude may bring! Most people see the attractions and protection that BALPA provides for them, and are happy to be members contributing something positive.

I am not, and have never been a BALPA official, but I have to congratulate the Association for riding to my support totally unbidden at a difficult time (thankfully passed) in a smallish independent. We do have a free choice of being a member or not. Better those that have such a bad attitude 'plow their own furrow'! BALPA sees many of them in trouble banging at the door for help- a bit like calling the AA for help when you are not a member! Go your way chaps, and good luck to you! Help is not available any longer 'after the event', with 'retrospective' subscriptions. By all means plow your furrow as well as you can, but no need to denigrate the Association to all others. Your way is not right.

In your opinion: which does not reflect reality.

It may suit you to be member, it may suit others not to be a member.

If you need legal protection a far better solution, and cheaper, is ALPL.com.

Why is this a "far better solution"? It may indeed be cheaper as a headline figure but that fee only covers the legal insurance whereas the Balpa subscription (0.6% after tax) covers a lot more.
Also in another thread mention was made of Balpa only being willing to take on cases they would have a good chance of winning well on the ALPL website they also admit this with the words "Condition 4.3 of the full insurance policy requires there to be reasonable prospects of a successful defence or pursuit of any claim under this insurance."

which according to the Financial Ombudsman means:-
We interpret ‘reasonable prospects’ as a 51% or better chance of success. Many consumers rate their chances more favourably than the legal advisers do. However, as they are not lawyers, their views will rarely (if ever) outweigh the experts’ legal opinion.

So you don't get any better cover as far as I could make out.

The previous mention was of BALPA refusing to take on a case of trying to jump a bond. Well frankly you would be asking them to take on a case that they know they couldn't win.

Bonds are perfectly legal and all the guff and nonsense about things like restriction of trade is just that, utter guff.

No lawyer will happily take on case where there is no chance of victory. BALPA are no different in that respect.

Rainboe. Would BALPA be better off without people like me? Would it !!!!!e. I have my eyes wide open and understand that BALPA isn't perfect and could be a shed load better than it is, but that didn;t stop me fighting like hell to get BALPA recognised at a previous company. They helped me massively when the company went on the offensive and tried to "fit me up" and ensured I got a very nice cheque and a clean record.

They could be better, but without any other realistic option, you are better off in than out.

The CC in any company ARE BALPA. They might not feel they get all the support they may need, but what are they asking for? BALPA to do their job for them? You and I are the union, this isn't about sitting on your backside expecting someone else to look after you. As an individual you should be trying to sort yourself and your fellow pilots out as best as possible. A union is just a mechanism to help organise this. Nothing more.

If the CC don't get the support of the members, then they can do nothing. They can be very effective as long as everyone stands together and that they are the right people to do the job.