The union exists for no other purpose than to protect its members. Call me cynical, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if this is being seized upon as a bargaining chip to influence heretofore-unseen negotiations of some sort or another.

The government regulatory bodies, however, exist to protect your life and believe me, if these planes were in any way dangerous, there is no way they would ever be allowed to take to the sky. Don't forget - there are several dozen A330s in the air at this very minute and none of them are having problems.