It's been mentioned before, but maybe the last line of defense will be the Check and Trainers. No Check and Trainers, no Trainees, no ****e contract.
Some years ago a senior Check Captain came to me during EBA discussions. He was miffed that the company had rejected their proposal for the C&T additions to salary. I told him that we had put our case and the company was playing hard ball. The only avenue open to them at that time was to collectively withdraw their labour and go back to line flying. He was agast! "If we do that, they'll find someone else to do it!" These guys folded. They bitched and whinged with the best of them, but in the end they were more concerned with retaining their positions of power than taking a stand.
Oh well, perhaps the last line of defense won't rest with the likes of them. unless they suddenly grow a set!