Angry cussing grasshopper, it’s called collective Bargaining for a reason. You enter negotiations at one place and through the bargaining process, emerge out the other end, You emerge with a TA molded through compromise. One key is to start with high enough openers and hold your ground.

The other side has aptitude and resolve as well. They’re typically better at it. They do it non-stop with ALL of your work groups. Pilot’s take a butter knife to a gun fight. If these things were not true, you wouldn't find yourself where you are, sucking hind-tit.

You don’t get the contract you deserve, you get the contract you leverage. The only real legal leverage the RLA gives you is the threat of a strike or an actual strike.

One more thing, your union is not just your MEC or your negotiators. It’s also all of the pilots. The question is whether the metal is moving. In the past, it has and therefore there was no reason for your management to yield to union aptitude and resolve. The history speaks for itself.

But, change has got to start somewhere. Maybe it’s already started to change. April 1st was impressive. A 99% strike vote? Impressive. Enough? Who knows. Time will tell.

Cuss me all you want
I still wish you good luck. It’s also called pattern bargaining for a reason.