Lee Not sure I agree with you that LKY's intervention improved Union/Management in 2003. Previous history shows that he has always threatened them as to what could happen if they got too uppity.
When the CA renewal was not agreed after 2 plus years talk talk with Alpha-S a few years before SARS the General made it clear that if their offer was not accepted then no back pay would be given and the offer cancelled. I have no doubt LKY encouraged that hard line attitude as he has no love of Pilots.