Once again, this isn't intended to offend anyone, he might have previous union experience, good for him, and good for the represented masses. I still stand by my statement, that you have a much better chance when you have the backing of an organized entity that specializes on negotiating and identifying managements tactics.

Let's face it boys and girls, management at any company is out to look out for their investors first (public or private), then their employees....it's naive at best to believe that good magement-employee relations equate to management looking out for the best interest of it's employees. For better or for worse the union factor balances that equation, but only when the union is independent and not under the direct influence of management.