ALPA is FAR, FAR, FAR from perfect. Hell, I'll be the first one to point out ALPA's imperfections.
I don't have any past or present affiliations with USAirways or America West or any regionals associated with either carriers, so I can speak about this as an outside observer.
It is indeed sad that the original USAir pilots got shafted, but they got shafted by their management, and then by their ELECTED ALPA reps. Looking from outside in, I agree - pilots got the real short end of the stick. It is sad that a 20 year veteran couldn't hold anything more than a narrowbody first officer. What would have been an even worse tragedy would be if the original USAir closed its doors and liquidated. I mean, talk about getting a real sh*tty end of the stick. Instead, USAir pilots got a Hail Mary through a merger with another entity - America West. From an outside perspective, it looks as if USAir pilots saw this as an opportunity to "right the wrongs done to its pilot group." Nobody has a problem with this. The problem is that USAir pilots want to do this squarely at the expense of America West pilots and disregard all ALPA merger policies.
It is indeed sad. I wish common sense would prevail here, but...... you reap what you sow. I felt sorry for USAir pilots ever since 9/11, up until this merger and their true colors came out. Now, I REALLY feel sorry for America West pilots for having this madness shoved down their throat.
Who knows... maybe the answer is to abolish the seniority concept altogether a'la Emirates. Who knows?