I don't think there were different unions in play then. 89 was all about union busting, so the domestic people were mostly non union. AIPA was the QF union, but it was a company union only.
I'm really not sure how, or even why, they would need to go to two pilot groups. It would have the effect of totally destroying promotional paths for both groups, at all rank levels.
Have you heard of the Chinese famine theory? You have two villages, both in famine. You take all of the food from both. If one has a better history of loyalty (or whatever measure you like), then give all of the food to that village. If they are both the same, then randomly pick one. The village with the food will be grateful (and loyal), and the other villagers will be dead, so they don't matter.
