Ted, welcome to the show, and keep asking questions.
Yes, right now, the ME3 is "The Threat" for all of us. I think that is probably why our MEC has been kissing RA's arse for years. Not that that is a bad thing, we need the A4A's MONEY to bribe our politicians to keep the ME3 out of all of our bigger cities. We can work together, with the A4A, to keep them out, hopefully, or we will go the way of the US Cruise Ship Industry.
That is why I think they have become a personnel wing of the company itself. They want to be on the 'same team' as the company. They don't want to pizz off the company, or they might not get invited to the next birthday party or ball game...
Part of the problem is, some of the guys running the Union, have not been line pilots for the last 10 years. They have not had to fly under the concessions they negotiated. The MEC Chairman from our last Bankruptcy Contract giveaway went to DC and is now a Lobbiest. Some of his Lieutenants are hoping they can get a DC gig too..if they just don't upset the apple cart.
So, it's up to us line pukes to call BS on the crap that's about to go down... again.
Carl and I have seen this movie too many times, I hope our new guys will see through the BS before it's too late.
If you need a Mentor, I'm available, I need crew too, so sack up and bring some beer, I'm almost out!