It seems the response by the UA unions crystallizes their complete disconnect from reality.
A UA passenger was assaulted and badly injured for the perceived convenience of UAL.
Rather than attempt to look at how this happened, they deflect: for reasons unknown to us.
This is a dangerously pathetic performance. They need to recognize that their industry has been getting away with murder and that this will probably now change.
The union would be smarter to seize this opportunity to insist that their members be allowed to apply common sense, for the good of the entire enterprise. Else they risk going down with the ship, because this system will get adjusted somehow.