VR-HFX, you seem to forget that the good times under PS were an exact reflection of the work done by the union, of which I was part. The original 5-4-3 rostering etc. were all the result of hard work on both sides negotiating in GOOD FAITH with each other. As for the A scales, they were a direct result of everyone in the union pulling together with complete solidarity for a better deal than the management were offering....which resulted in the then DFO MH, COMING TO THE EGM to tell us how the company was going to satisfy our needs in both pay and benefits.
The advent of B scales followed by ASL were the beginning of the rot, with a continual 'take it or leave it' attitude from the management side.
What you have left now is the ruins of what was in the '80s and early '90s a relatively cordial and at least respectful relationship between union and management, brought about by both commercial circumstances and the availability of pilots, but also the sheer bad faith and intransigence of the personell on the management side.