Hey SF, are you an E-190 Captain yet? Listen to my advice this time. Get into the left seat of that thing if you can. At least then you'll have options if it doesn't work out with the airline.
Lots of doomsday rhetoric, but honestly I don't see the union issues as being a problem in the short term. Cost of fuel and a faltering economy will be a much bigger drag on the company.
The USAPA victory is a very good thing for the East pilots. Every day that they can delay the implemenation of the NIC award is a victory. Guys will get the attrition based advancement that is rightfully theirs. Management will place new aircraft in the East as their costs are lower. That is what will finally force the West to come back to the bargaining table as they stagnate with low attrition and no growth.
Typhoonpilot
P.S. Pakeha Boy: Calling people scabs who have not crossed a union picket line is just plain wrong. You, of all people, should know the history of a small group of AWA pilots in Australia. Do you call them that when you fly with them?