You may be correct on that. My point to T-bone can use them as an example. During their last negotiations, the company was suggesting that it would be cost effective to bring more work in-house , but would have to trim down on the base wage increases and rather increase manpower. The membership voted to increase wages and maintain benefits and not bring in more work.
That may ultimately be what raises the base wages for mechanics at the combined US. It will probably not happen if we have to recall more mechanics to perform additional S checks as the overhead and support staff would increase also.
Just a thought on which direction to take. More members, less benefits and wages. Maintain or reduce work and remain at current scale increases as they come due, but not plan on future ones after 2009.