To answer an earlier question: yes, the CA slots awarded to new hires appear to be done, since the last 2 classes didn't have them. However, upgrade to the 737 in a junior base is still not much more than a year, assuming you have the required hours plus 500 hours as a United FO in the airplane you'll be upgrading in.

That said, it remains to be seen whether the new hires who were awarded CA slots will actually be activated as a CA once they reach those 500 hours (and get off probation). I don't believe any of the new hire CAs have been on property long enough to go to charm school... perhaps someone with more info can comment...