I think you have identified something very key here.

I actually believe the union tells Howard Attarian what to do and when to do it. I think ALPA is running the airline. If ALPA is "collaborating" that's no different than getting union "buy in" and the company getting "buy in." Rarely are the company's interests and the union's interests aligned. Safety, Security are two important ones, but after those two, I don't see the company and union agreeing on much, nor should they.

There should be mutual respect and understanding for each other's position and aggressive/assertive posturing and negotiating to advance that position. In the end, the company gets as much union as it deserves. In the end, the dues paying membership of the association at large are the ones that the association has a duty to represent fairly and in an unbiased manner, neither advancing nor protecting one demographics interests above the others.