I like how everyone refers to the MEC as the "union". WE are the "union". If you pay dues, you are part of the union. If THEY are retreating, YOU are retreating. Yes the "MEC" has no backbone. Why should they? We just stand there like a bunch of goons watching while they take the easy way out and get paid no matter what the outcome. Not many people personally confront anyone in the MEC to express their disgust.

A union at a regional airline is pointless because no one stands together. The group is way too divided where half is content and wants to retire from the company one day while the other wants to move on to somewhere else. Majors don't have that issue. Most of them have the same desire, to stay until retirement. So they hold the company to the contract as a whole.

Honestly at the regional level, paying a few attorneys to negotiate and write a contract would work fine. Being unified outside of that is pointless. I see a lot that just let the company violate the CBA and don't follow up. EVER. And some that hold a gun to their head for everything.