"That means that the unions have been promised $26 Billion more than what the company has... How in the hell did that happen??? What's the justification"
The company raided the pension fund in good years and paid themselves bonuses? It isn't an "unfunded" liability so much as a "defunded" one.
Why is it that you think union workers are being paid more than they're worth when they ask for a living, while management drives the company into the wall with greed? Do you ever question the pensions and perqs of the class that doesn't get it's hands dirty at work... those that shower before work as opposed to after? Or is it just the working folk you despise?
When Daimler "merged" with Chrysler their people were shocked to find that each of the top ten executives at Chrysler had been "earning" more than all of the top ten at Daimler combined.