Well yeh, and shame on the AFL-CIO.
But things were very complicated regarding this.
PATCO was not a member of the AFL-CIO and they harbored a grudge against them for supporting Reagan. Not to mention again it was strike in violation of federal law.
The fallout from the strike while it has been significant is more a matter of impression than conception.
At any rate the issue today with pilots is confined to forcing the NMB back to its mission rather than allowing them the power grab they've engaged in over the last 25 or so years.
They are a government agency; any power you allow them to take, they will use.
They actually have gotten to the point where they think their mission is to "successfully" resolve the issues before them.
They actually think that's their goal.
They don't have a goal; they have a mission, spelled out in their Mission Statement.
They must be held accountable to it or anyone under the RLA will be held prisoner to their tainted definition.

another graybeard