The income tax disadvantage alone would be enough to deter any pilot from bidding these bases.

This is the whole reason why the company needs the LOA, otherwise NOBODY would bid it. There is no possible reason why the union and the company can't sit down and tweak this LOA just a little bit to make it more viable. I just can't see how this is the BEST the company can do, come on seriously! Don't let "The Sky Is Falling" crys make you think otherwise...