VB Captain, what I am sure you meant to point out is that like in not just 1989 but all previous disputes of substance (including the Superannuation battles for example) an organized pilot body relies on solidarity to achieve anything.
That solidarity is critical and is where airline pilots were let down in 1989, despite promises and secret ballots, by a number of people, the last dozen or two of whom made ALL the difference.
Lets face it, if management/government can RELY on fence jumpers then they can do what they like. Fire union leaders, victimize, arbitrarily change conditions etc. It's happened before and certainly will happen again whenever individual pilots wander across a picket line singing the old refrain "I'm just taking my job back" when what they're really doing is making sure others CAN"T get their jobs back.