The pay rate posted here does suck, although it is higher than Mesa. I just don't see the IBT settling on a contract that is substandard. A friend of mine in the training dept at TSA said they are expecting the whole thing to settle out with a very good scale. Apparently all the check airmen and most of the instructors at TSA want to go.
I have been happy with the IBT, and my biggest concern is that they maintain an industry acceptable contract. The current TSA contract really isn't much better than Mesa's. Hopefully this whole thing works out for everyone involved. Good luck.