I once witnessed a skipper carry an elderly & frail woman up the front steps of a 737 as there was no ambi-lift available. Cheers all around once she was seated and off we went.
If he had slipped and dropped her he could have killed/injured her/himself and the cheers would have turned to jeers and he'd be out of a job/career. Risk versus reward/Cost-benefit analysis anyone?
Plus for all the pilots saying 'good on
em; it's getting a job done' ; you would be equally happy if your union went on strike for a cause you believed in and the airline brought in qualified crew to replace you whilst you were on strike? That would be the same thing right?