Yes, I've heard something similar to that before, at two of the other carriers I was at where I was furloughed.

Pilots need to look at the contract how it will affect you during the duration of the contract, not at some future pay that may never happen.

Also we've hired a number of pilots who are older and won't be at the top of the scale for long, if ever. What do you say to them?

NO other carrier has a slope like ours. Not American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, or Virgin. Are we really smarter than everyone else by this type of pay scale? Or are we throwing the junior pilots under the bus?