My opinion is that both VR and PT are used as a sweetner to make the TU:s and their members to accept the deal. If not agreed both VR and PT will be wiped out and replaced with CR.
Don't forget that 2000 HCE means anything between 2000 and 4000 actual people.
As for the hold-pool I have heard there are over 1000 people waiting. Recruitment earlier this year was fuzzy because they couldn't give any information whether it would be on temporary or permanent contracts or on which fleet they would be recruited to.