I don't think this has any bearing on pilot pay negotiations. I believe it is more supply of labor and demand for it. Come contract time, if their is high demand of pilot labor and a low supply of it the pilots will have leverage. How they dress doesn't matter too much as long as it is the uniform.
I agree with these points. However, the point I was trying to make was in reference to another's post about how he would dress more professionally if he got paid more. The bottom line is that - in my view - the public sees how you dress as a direct reflection of yourself first followed by the company a close second. Most would agree that normal passenger wouldn't know the difference between a United and American uniform anyway. It's all about presentation and if you don't take pride in it, I think that says a lot about who you are.