In representing our membership, we use both protective legislation and our unity of argument and purpose. This is as true when dealing with the European Authorities as it is with Company Management negotiations. So when the law lets us down, we have only our unity. I have recently finished reading a very enlightening book called "The Spirit Level – Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better" by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. The authors are epidemiologists and have used these techniques to show that where societies are more unequal, all of society – rich and poor – suffer harm in the form of higher rates of imprisonment, obesity, poor educational outcomes, teenage pregnancies, etc.. They show it is not the absolute wealth of the country which is important in addressing these problems, but the gap between rich and poor. I wondered whether this broad truth would also be true in our specialist 'pilot society'. Although it would need the objective research to prove it one way or another, I believe that we can only harm our unity if we allow or promote greater disparity within our profession. When the flight deck door closes, we all do essentially the same job; whether the aircraft is large or small; carries people, freight or both; whether the product is single class, no frills or multi class, full service; from a flag carrier with great traditions or a new search and rescue helicopter start up: ALL Flight Crew have the same responsibilities and needs, handle similar problems and challenges, and fly in the same airspace. Liberalisation continues to change the shape of our industry; managements are merging operations, yet seek to divide our efforts to represent our members; consolidation across national borders has raised the challenge of different tax and employment law regimes. For all these reasons we must fiercely guard and continue to develop our unity. We must work together; unite our voices and actions, drive towards principled and honest outcomes to our challenges, nurture unity across the whole of our profession. Regardless of company, product, country, region, size or type of aircraft; with unity of voice and action, together we are all professional pilots.