Thanks for a great post. Too many people forget that the union (regardless of who/what that is) IS the membership. As you indicated, you can call it ALPA, ALPO or the U.S. Guys and/or Gals Who Fly Big Airplanes For A Living (USG/GWFBAFaL), but the bottom line is that the membership at the local level is the union. Too many people forget that little fact.
It's awfuly easy to toss the blame somewhere else after the roof caves in.