Longer in the pool has nothing to do with it...selection after the interview (where the Union does have reps present) is a process that is opaque to anyone else but the HR and others in the company.

So, did they play favorites? Likely...if only for the cost of commuting a guy up to ANC since they buy us tickets and hotels (even in our base), they are free to do that...we may not like it but there it is.

Good luck