I think the far bigger problem is/was the existence and proliferation of out sourced flying - the existence of jet regionals.

So the RLA isn't in effect and you can strike sooner. Management caves in and you get a good contract. Airline B underbids your airline and gets growth. Your airline shrinks. Newco grows and attracts pilots to low wages in the pursuit of turbine PIC. All so you can hopefully start over at the mainline after a decade working at a C scale operation or two.

ALPA used to have decision 83 as a back stop for pilot pay. Now ALPA pilots have to negotiate against each other to be the cheapest. Pattern bargaining only works when there is meaningful scope.

Fix the profession. Kill the regionals.