These rules are disclosed to clarify the various responsibilities of all community members here on BALPA Forum. They shall be adhered to by everyone to ensure that our board runs smoothly and provides a fun and productive experience for all of our community members and visitors.
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BALPA Forum Terms of Use Licence
Introduction
The BALPA Forum is not a benefit arising under the Rulebook and access is not by way of entitlement as a benefit of membership. It is a facility gratuitously provided by BALPA under the terms of this licence. Access to the BALPA Forum can be varied, restricted, or otherwise rescinded without notice, and for any reason, entirely at the discretion of BALPA.
By accessing the BALPA Forum (hereinafter “we”, “us”, “our”, “Forum”, “BALPA Forum”, “https://forum.balpa.org”), you agree to be legally bound by the following Terms of Use (‘the Terms’) as set out in this licence. If you do not agree to be legally bound by all of these Terms then you may not access and/or use the BALPA Forum. We may change the Terms at any time and we’ll do our utmost to keep you informed of any amendments to them, but you should review the Terms regularly, because your continued use of the BALPA Forum will mean that by your conduct you agree to the updated Terms, as and when updates take place.
BALPA rule book
The Terms of this licence operate entirely independently of, and are outside of the Rulebook. However, this is without prejudice to the requirement for all members to comply with BALPA’s rules as explained further below.
Accessing and sharing information
The BALPA Forum is a restricted access website. Nevertheless, you are responsible for your account. You agree that you shall not share your log-in details or password with anyone, and you shall not allow non-BALPA members to read the forum, either online or in printed or in any other form. Nor shall you allow a BALPA member to read or access areas of the forum to which he or she is not otherwise entitled (such as another airline’s boards).
You also agree never to use another member’s account to post messages or browse BALPA Forum. All information on the BALPA Forum is confidential, and you shall not discuss or share the information published on BALPA Forum with any third party, unless they are BALPA members or officers.
Disallowed posts
You agree that you will not post any material which is knowingly false, defamatory, abusive, racist, discriminatory, vulgar, insulting, hateful, obscene, threatening, confidential, invasive of a person’s privacy, amounts to harassment of any person or is otherwise unlawful.
You agree not to post any lengthy articles, or post anything of an overtly political or religious nature.
Spam, flooding, advertisements (save for within boards designed for that purpose), chain letters, pyramid schemes, repetitive self-post replies, and solicitations, or any posts which could reasonably be considered to place BALPA at legal, financial or other risk are also inappropriate to this forum.
You also agree not to post any material which is prejudicial to BALPA’s objectives or policy or that would bring BALPA into disrepute (to do so would potentially subject you to action under Rule 10 of BALPA’s Rules, ‘Discipline and Obligations of Membership’). Postings that seek to undermine BALPA membership such as promoting an alternative organisation would fall into this category.
Posts or comments related to ongoing legal cases and/or live litigation are prohibited on this forum. Please note that some cases result in settlement out of court which can attract strict confidentiality clauses. It is important that we exercise our collective responsibility not to breach any member’s terms of agreement. Further, you agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or you have consent from the owner of the copyrighted material. You also agree not to infringe any intellectual property rights whatsoever, including in relation to trademarks, passing off, or patents.
All of the terms and conditions outlined above apply equally to member profile information including profile images.
Disclaimer
Note that it is impossible for BALPA to confirm the validity of postings on BALPA Forum and that BALPA is not responsible for their content. We do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information presented. The messages express only the views of the author, not the views of BALPA.
Reporting posts process
Objectionable content should be notified to the administrator of the Forum immediately by using the “Report This Post” button or by email to communications@balpa.org.
BALPA has the right to remove any content which is believed to contravene any of these terms of use, or for any other reasonable purpose. This is, however, a manual process, so BALPA may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.
Moderation
Please note that with each posting, your IP address and membership number are recorded.
Moderation of the “All BALPA Members” Board is the responsibility of the NEC who may choose to delegate responsibility to BALPA staff members.
Moderation of the various Company Council boards is the responsibility of the respective CCs who may choose to delegate responsibility to independent forum moderators.
The NEC may take action to moderate any post as it sees fit and may also delegate this responsibility as it sees fit. Moderators will exercise their judgement in applying these Terms. Moderators may edit, move and remove any post which, in their view, contravenes any of these terms or for any other reason.
Moderators may issue alerts to members in cases of serious, egregious or repetitive breaches of these Terms of Use.
A failure to comply with these Terms may result in access to the Forum under the terms of this licence being rescinded without notice.
BALPA Rulebook
A breach of these Terms may also lead to your being reported for a breach of BALPA rules and the potential for a disciplinary investigation and hearing from which various sanctions may follow in accordance with Rule 10 and Appendix 3.
Indemnity
You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages and you agree to indemnify BALPA against any claims by third parties, liabilities or costs that may arise from messages posted by you on BALPA Forum.
Your data
Although BALPA will not voluntarily disclose any of your personal data, including your name and email address to a third party, BALPA reserves the right to do so if legally required.
Your details
By using the BALPA Forum you agree to include your real name, rank, fleet and base within your profile which is attached to each post. You must update your rank, fleet or base as and when changes occur by contacting repsandmembersservices@balpa.org or via 020 8476 4000. You have the right, after log-in, to change your username, however you cannot remain anonymous. After logging into BALPA Forum, a detailed profile, including your real name, will be visible to all those who use BALPA Forum.
You agree to be contactable via the private messaging function of the BALPA Forum for all communications with you in respect of the use of the BALPA Forum.
TERMS OF USE TRANSGRESSION - PROCEDURE
The escalating ladder of procedure steps is detailed below.
Occurrence: 1st Transgression
Action: Removal of post. At discretion of moderator possible engagement with member and opportunity offered to amend post as mutually agreed depending on circumstances.
Procedure Step: 1 week removal of licence (suspended)
Responsibility: Moderators
Occurrence: 2nd Transgression
Action: Removal of post. Engagement with member.
Procedure Step: Activation of 1 week removal of licence
Responsibility: CERC Subcommittee of NEC
Occurrence: 3rd Transgression
Action: Removal of post. Engagement with member.
Procedure Step: month removal of licence
Responsibility: CERC Subcommittee of NEC
Occurrence: 4th Transgression
Action: Removal of post.
Procedure Step: Permanent removal of licence
Responsibility: CERC Subcommittee of NEC
In all cases where Licence holders wish to make a case outlining mitigating factors, at any step on the above ladder, such case will be made to Head of ORG who will liaise with NEC. #