Yeah, it sounds like something else other than a union pilot shop. In fact, at a non-union pilot shop, the pilot is an at-will employee. In other words, the non-union pilot has a probation period that last the entire time he is a non-union pilot, ie. double secret probation when you screw up.

For example, at my union pilot shop, I have a written agreement of how often I can use my commuter clause, unlimited, if I follow the couple of steps in the agreement. I can call in fatigue unlimited, get paid (not out of my sick bank) and be protected from disciplinary action. I can call in sick unlimited with a doctor's note and be protected from disciplinary action. And even if I do have a legitimate attendance event (missed trip, out of position, unable to contact, etc) I have a written policy of how many of those I can have in a certain amount of time and each step of disciplinary action that will be administered for each step. Everything is written down so neither party has any question of what is expected. And even after all that, I have a written grievance process which if I decide to use, the union pays all legal and administrative fees, including a neutral third party arbitration to resolve the issue fairly for both sides.

If that's true, why unionize? Just let supply and demand work the way its supposed to like any other corporation. You are already a step ahead of everyone else.