"We didn't think they would do that."

Depends on at what point you end the designation of "new hire" I had a guy with less than a year at the company as an AQFO on my last rotation.

The company can no longer afford all these line check airmen. Way too expensive and inefficient.
The change from check airmen captains to first officers doing new hire evaluation flights has apparently been well received.
ALPA was asked about it and responded that nobody had mentioned it on the survey so that must mean the pilots are in favor.
Now management has found another way to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Have you seen Captain Dickson's latest memo?
Line checks will now be done by specially qualified flight attendants.
But not gate agents. That rumor is false.

Nothing to think about, JT and JG's stated goal is to have the same set up that works in the sim for ck rides and to apply that criteria to the line checks. Whether they get it remains to be seen...this is the nose under the tent.
From my friend BF...."We didn't think they would do that."

What exactly is contract administration doing? Why do we even have it?

IQ question: If you are scheduled to complete sim training, and then have vaca, will they cancel vaca to accommodate OE? Or will they let you keep your vaca? (I did not request to keep vaca in the AE.)

Winning lotto number to whomever answers first.

What if the new hire's father was a 4th floor person?

What if the new hire's father was a 4th floor person? The vetting process is not formal. Literally a good guy or is he bad guy type. No rigor.

Um there is more politics to it than that.

Classic!:D

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard someone at DALPA say that, I could retire too!;)