Other than to say that they have been contributing solely to the companies bottom line with their professions efforts---your logic is skewed. If they are "no more special than any new hire" as you say, then why even let them keep vacation and longevity?

What they are is "c" scale mainline. Plain and simple. Doing the same job, flying he same routes, wearing the same uniform.

Afraid you'd get bumped on bidding?