short(l)y
Idyllic, but impractical to wish for an association that would "be close to both management decisions and the people it portends to represent" as long as the management of Cathay take such a belligerent approach to its personnel relations. The next time you fly (or interact with non-management staff) ask a few questions about how they feel about the present state of affairs and Cathay’s management. You may be surprised to learn that the management of this airline is almost universally despised.
A well know-known and often quoted summation of Cathay in Airline (Management) Circles:
Technical Excellence, Personnel Catastrophe