Excellent points, and well taken. However, that doesn't mean that it can't be nipped in the bud. For a "professionial" negotiating comittee it needs to be addressed. No if ands or butts. To let it slide and trust the management side is hogwash . . .otherwise there would be no fuss about being union. See what I mean? It's a check and balance sort of thing and I'm telling you now, that this needs to be nipped in the bud. And a hardline drawn.
As you can see by your own statement management can get in the way of themselves. Well, why let that happen? Make sure that opportunity isn't there. End of story. I've been on too many unemployment lines by no fault of my own to let something like this take us out as well. I've seen it written in contracts and we better hit it here and now. It should be a "hardliner."