Gentelmen, I in no way meant to demean, or diminsh the quality individuals whom work at this company or who seek employment there. There are a great many 'good guys' out there who fail in their professional duties both intentionally and unintentionally; refrence Enron and 3701. Forget about the contract issues, forget about the ALPA ties, forget the fact that I have many friends at both companies.
Target such things as the effect of the current contract on your quality of life in all aspects. 9E can bring you down to 7 days off a month... 7 days with your family, your wife, your children, your parents. Think about how much airport food you will eat (because you can't pack that much healthy food for every trip).
Speaking of professonalism, look at the number of hull losses they have had over the past 4 years... not just the fatal ones... include Milwakee, read that report a few times.. Check the number of violations of the pilots/crews per airline. Ask the MSP FSDO how the MEM FSDO has approved them for things that no other airline consider to be legal. Look at the training deparments at both companes. Look at the employee relations at both companes. Look at the CRM culture (not just the CRM class.. how is it accepted by the pilots?) How will you be treated as a professional member of the team? What is the culture of the pilots? Are you encouraged to 'join the 410 club'? Do you only study the week before your re-current or is the book open every flight? Do you hear 'the book says xxx but I do it this way' every day? Even from the Checkairmen? Do you wear your uniform propperly? What is the culture... both from management and from the employees? If it is your first airline, you won't know the difference... But after you have seen more than one, you can tell.
As for your career... you may get lucky. You may get thru unscathed. You might not. You might fly with someone careless (at any airline). You might give yourself a disqualifying medical condition from stress (at any airline). But worst of all, you might learn an unprofessional, lazy, or unsafe culture (at any airline). In my opinion, Mesaba would be the better choice.
On a side note, in today's current environment of pilot-short companies, extremely low hiring minimums, very fast upgrades; our beloved industry is under stress. I truly meant no ill will toward any one. Each person should attempt to be the best pilot, and best professional that they can. Are you still learning today? Do you have 1000 hours or 1 hour 1000 times? We are all marching forward together, trying to provide for our families and be happy. I have really never met a pilot or pilot group that weren't good guys. But I have seen excellent examples of people who care and are professional... and examples of those who are not. Every airline has some of both, and it is up to you to decide what/who you are going to be.