Packamack, I'd wager it's got nothing whatsoever to do with protecting the meritocratic culture they're trying to establish (if, by meritocratic, you mean selected for promotion on how far you're prepared to toe the management line). To my mind the only answer, and the only reason they're prepared to let an expensive and damaging strike happen is that there are far, far greater savings to be made off the mainline in the future if Schedule K isn't re-written.