answer to question number 1 - because without a union we would still be back in the stone ages. Flight Attendants would be sharing rooms on layovers, there would be no expense pay, very limited health care, no limits on hours the company can work you, etc. - need I go on.

answer to question number 2 - because of the "allure of free/reduced rate travel" for one. For two, there is a future in these jobs, thanks to the help of unions. While beginning pay is miserable and you suffer poverty level wages for some years, you will eventually be able to make a comfortable living in most airline positions. Not only that, without people like weather boy willing to take these jobs, you would be suffering customer service the likes you could not even imagine. You think you suffer now - try flying on an airline that treats you the same way the cashiers at Burger King treat you. And you can say what you want but I've yet to be treated that poorly on any airline. There wouldn't be another airline to turn to because they would all be the same. So count your blessings. Air travel is a part of life for most people on these boards and by and large it's not that bad. It could certainly be worse.