Don't sweat it. Coming from the military, it's a lot like making the transition to a new squadron. Don't walk in the door shooting your mouth off until you see how things work. Lay low for a little bit until you get the routine down and figure out the operation. At first you'll know little about the union, maybe even have no use for one. In time, it will become very obvious that things would be a whole lot worse without it.

I'd study the company. The union history can--and should--come after you're hired. IMHO

Reminds me of some other advice I got as a newbie in a new squadron. It's called the "30-60-90 day rule."

1. Shut up and observe for the first 30 days.
2. After 60 days, you can ask questions.
3. After 90 days, you can have your own opinion.

Riddler

If you're fortunate enough to get hired by an airline, I suggest you disregard the above "30-60-90 rule", for the first year, anyway. The reason is that most airlines have a probationary period, usually one year. It's within this time that you can be let go for virtually any reason. With no explanation at all if the company doesn't want to give you one. You could be called in to the chief pilots office and told that you're fired because you have (as an example) blond hair, and there's not a thing you could do about it. Not in the first year at least. After the anniversary of your hire date, then you can probably go immediately to step 3 in the above "rule." One of the nice things about working for a company that has a unionized pilot force, is the protection by the union, offered to the individual pilot. If a pilot manages to get in trouble, the union will represent you, hire lawyers (if needed) and try to resolve the issue between you and management, while trying to protect you and your job. At a non-union shop, I'm not sure if one ever gets past the employee-at-will environment, meaning that the company can treat you like you're on probation for your entire career. At any rate, good luck with the last year of your military obligation, and your airline job search.

"Confessions of a Union Buster" by Marty Levitt (?)sp is also a must read. Fair amouunt of confessional, but an enormous amount of reality. Many of these tactics were used on us at FDX during our struggle to unionize. Good luck.

4. After 120 days opine openly.
5. After 150 days, start calling in sick to go fly fishing.
6. After 180 days, question why you left the military.
7. After 210 days, wonder if you can get BACK in the military.
8. After 240 days, start asking yourself why you've voted republican all these years.
9. After 270 days, start asking how can we get paid more than company X.
10. After 300 seconds, ask yourself why you wasted your time reading my post.
11. Visit ALPA.org. Good luck with the transition.

Tom
I'm just kidding guys, so don't flame. :)