Serious question... if this TA is rejected, do the status quo provisions of the RLA apply?

My initial assessment is no, based on:

Williams v. Jacksonville Terminal Co., 315 U.S. 386, 399-400 (1942),

and

Virgin Atlantic Airways v. NMB, 956 F.2d 1245, 1253 (2d Cir. 1992), petition for cert. filed, 60 U.S.L.W.
3829 (May 19, 1992) (No. 91-1873).

The NMB seems to have steered clear of setting any more-recent rulings that set a precedent one way or the other on status quo when there wasn't already a ratified, amendable contract in place.