In a bizarre perspective, the company ended up doing them a favor. Look at Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong and ask yourself if it's a setup you really want to be part of. Presumably the majority of the 49ers moved on and into better companies that Cathay Pacific - not much admirable about the company even back then - dare to say much less now!. Anyhow, it was a sad day back then - but only serves to prove that the real colors of that company has been shining though for 2 decades, just not everybody has been able to face that fact until recently!