We had our own union before. We decided to join ALPA because of the funds available in a larger union. If you are one small group, you don't have the resources of a larger union.
5millionaire, the OP likes to say they are a FedEx pilot and are engaged with the union, yet continues to post things that the MEC says not to post. The OP has also admitted to flying draft in 8 of the 15 months that we have been in negotiations, but their reasons are valid and everyone else is hurting us.
Bottom line, it is an individual decision until we are allowed to enter self help. Everyone likes to tell others what to do, yet has a reason why what they are doing is ok. The contract allows us to fly draft, AVA, deviate on deadheads, sell back vacation, trip trade, pick up trips etc....
We did not crush everyones pay rates when we signed our contract in 2015. We were only a little higher than AA. Prior to our 2015 contract, we were last in pay rates behind, AA, UA, DL, and UPS. We briefly jumped ahead, only to fall behind by 10% or more. We were sold a POS TA by the union and 56% of the group fell for it because they were afraid to challenge the leadership, kind of like the OP and others.