Do not kid yourself about the Aussie ALAEA. They have let the companies get too far in restructuring, now making themselves useless to all, as the LAME's are now too fragmented on serious issues, even between ports in the same company.
If they are so great, why are 20+ year licensed engineers being paid the same as a first year F/O with a regional airline flying a SAAB340? We used to have some parity with the Airline Captain, now we are far far behind, and as we are not considered 'Militant' we get crapped on by all companies.
They are no better than unions elsewhere it is just that there has been so much featherbedding over the years, there is a gross oversupply in Aus. However, it will come to an end in another five or so years, as retirements of the baby boomers come into play here.
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When all else fails, read the manual!