UAL has done a lot for airline safety. UAL-ALPA has done more to raise the bar on wages and benefits that just about any other group. The ESOP turned into a disaster, but it was a cutting edge idea to tie both management and the company employees to the same ship.
There have been mistakes on both sides (summer of love--and about every management idea outside of running an airline they ever tried). However, a solid United has proven to be a good thing for unionized pilots everywhere.
Good luck guys...turn it around and make it good.