Hey, I'm with you. I wish we didn't need unions either, but...

If your only yardstick of success is not being paid rock bottom wages, then yeah, I guess you're right about the corporate world.

In a unionized pilot group, the company CAN'T cut your pay in half without going through a long painful negotiating process during which you have some control over how much of a pay cut you can accept over what time period. Or, perhaps you negotiate that you will not accept a pay cut and insist that the airline implement other measures, like furloughing or reducing schedules. Either way, you have a say so in the process which you don't have if you don't have a union. Sure, after negotiations break down and you go into self help, the company can do what they want (which is probably to cut your pay in half like they first wanted to), but with a union it will take them months or years to reach that point that the lost productivity incurred along the way, and the bad press etc. just might be enough incentive for management to find a better solution. And while the company does what they want, so too can you (within the limits of the RLA). And yes, 100% of the pilot group can quit any time they want. No law can force you to be employed against your will. You are thinking of organized job action prior to self help...this is what is specifically prohibited under the RLA. But if you are not in a union, you can NEVER engage in organized job action...EVER. You'll get fired on the spot.

I likely didn't change your opinion with all this. That's ok. Do what ya gotta do. Fortunately for you, the law provides that you reap most if not all the benefits of membership in a labor union if one is in place at your company, whether you join or not. Most places are agency shop...you must pay dues anyway.

Cheers!