I can't say for sure as I never tried to make applicants go elsewhere. But if we're guessing. I assume you're talking about before the contract was done when JB was MASSIVELY behind it's peers with compensation, work rules and benefits, so some may have recommended to applicants to seek employment at premium employers or wait for the contract to be done (as a group would have been an additional pressure point to finish negotiations) so that 3,700 JB pilots and ALL FUTURE JB pilots (including all new hires) could finally have near-peer comp package?

Those selfish jerks! Wanting near-peer comp for 3,700 JB pilots and ALL FUTURE JB pilots! Oh the humanity! Won't someone please think of the CHILDREN...