Quote:

"...I hate that rat and think it is the lamest thing ever. ..."

Disagree.

Noone likes the rat. The first point is that the intended audience doesn't like it either, so you need to look beyond how it makes you feel.

The second point is that we are union thugs. That is to say, we can be union thugs if we want. When you start thinking of yourself as above this sort of thing, management notices. That's precisely the moment they stop looking at you in terms of a potential threat.

Let's not forget that we are, each of us, one of 12,000 assets that the company relies on the conduct business. It doesn't matter how lofty our ideals, and our sense of self-worth: management views us without maudelin sentiments, the way a store owner might view the guard dogs he leaves on the property at night.

A pilot that can't stomach union tactics is like a dog that won't bear it's teeth when pushed beyond the threshold: it'll only get invite more abuse. Or, if it's lucky and whimpers enough, it'll get "promoted" to lap-dog status, and pee the rug when it overflows with gratitude from receiving the occasional pat on the head.