Let me tell you how the real world works--a world completely divorced from the world of internet message boards.

Several years ago Microsoft had a cash hoard of $54 billion. Then the CEO Steve Ballmer told the employees that they had to pay more for their health insurance, because "Microsoft couldn't afford it."

"What do you mean you can't afford it? We have $54 billion sitting in the bank!" was the answer.

His answer was "That's not your money, that's the shareholders' money."

So Microsoft then proceeded to get rid of ALL of the cash hoard, either through a one time special dividend of $3 a share, and the rest through a stock buyback. The employees didn't get ONE CENT.

That my friend, is the real world, and that is before the "Affordable" Care Act liberal wet dream was enacted.

Now I want you to join the negotiating committee and adopt the tactic of barge into room/pound fist on table/demand, demand, demand/collect lots of $ from the company and accolades from the pilots.

Voila, as simple as that.

If that works, I will be the first to congratulate you.