Wolfpack,
As I understand it, IF a merger occurs, even those pilots who choose not to join IBT (which is their right) must still pay a fee because even the non-union employees benefit from the collective negotiation conducted by the union. It may not be palatable to some, but they always have the option of seeking greener (or at least different) pastures.
As for the salary scale of the TA, you are correct that a current NJI F/O would take a pay cut if governed by NJA pay rates for a pilot with equivalent time of service. However, under the TA, a Captain with more than 5 years of service, holding a seat on a category 4 aircraft, will make more than an NJI Captain with equivalent time of service. As with most airline negotiations, the more senior members of the union (ie: Captains) made out much better under the TA than did junior members while new hires will really have to pay some dues before they benefit.
RTS is supposed to make another visit to Hilton Head after the contract is signed. If he hopes to successfully fight a single carrier petition, he will need the support of the NJI pilots. What better way to garner support among the troops than to announce improvements to the NJI schedule, vacation, and pay policies?