I've only been through one strike, although firsthand accounts of many more. I can see that the union is going to get spanked badly in this one, as they have no economic leverage and no public sympathy. Going out on strike (or leaving the door open for a lockout) will be the height of stupidity, but it will happen, and the disasterous effects on those families' lives won't be surprising.

I hope they (AMFA) have a rabbit to pull out of their toolkit here, but I'm not optimistic. Regardless of what happens to them and their members' lives, though, it'll be a good thing for the financial future of NW. I just hate to see good union folks get caught in the squeeze between free market economics and union management pigheadedness.