What airline does not see pilots, crew and maintenance as just another cost point that needs optimization to the max in order to satisfy shareholders and investors?
In the US and plenty of places the airline regulations are strong and followed well. NTSB reports have nothing to do with shareholder value and FAA directives are followed. Not that there are no problems, but flying in the US is very safe.
Boeing 737 MAX disasters says otherwise, especially when after the first crash the decision was made not the ground all others which was clearly in favor of profits over safety.
The accidents may not have been American airlines but it could have easily been.
Southwest's pilots union has been somewhat weak with negotiations if anything. A lot of their pilots are super unhappy about it. The market is strong for pilots right now and they're behind their peers at the Big 3 by quite a bit in a lot of areas.