One does not have to be Tory to be liberal in economic thinking. What I can't stand is a fairly educated bunch of - generally - Tory voting people deluding themselves into thinking that unions are anything other than a highly socialist concept. This is in a day and age where the law gives adequate protection, and then have the audacity to claim that they are somehow reformed and professional, when they primarily still negotiate on pay.
Are you so naive as to think that every other union considers itself in the same light - do you really think that the baggage handlers and drivers think any differently or have less human reasoning than you to justify their existence. Of course not.
The safety role of the union I do not challenge one iota.
Modern airline 'management' makes union membership essential.
As implied by my safety comment, but ultimately strengthen the CAA to sort this out.
Your concept of a nitpicking beancouter should rather be applied to penny-pinching management. We simply record what they have done. Or failed to do. Or sort out the financial mess they created.