Many 2005 hires are most definitely 20 year veterans from 2-3 previous airlines. Some even came from United after being furloughed and now like their 2005-6 hire status better than their 1999 United date.

You might as well call them the 2000-6 hires at CAL. What's the difference between a 2001 and a 2005 anyway?

Nothing. The first 2005 is one number behind the last 2001. Nobody hired anybody in the interim.