Wez,
I suspect you have more than one board troll with the new arrival. However, avi would be instructive as to the "union" (and I use that word loosely) within the PHX station. It was a station full of rats largely and representatives who were a little too cozy with Management. My feeling was when union representation accompanied someone into a disciplinary or termination hearing they weren't there as tenacious advocates, but more akin to someone to give last rites providing little more than to beg for mercy from Management.
Unfortunately the results of such weak representation lead to passive sycophantic cooperation with Management by the rank and file, and ironically, attacking the bargaining group attempting to better their very lives. As I have said many times in this industry that one better have friends either in the union or with Management, and with an effete local PHX union many made their alliances with Management, as with brother avi.