BahrainLad, I believe you are missing MY point, and that is, IMMEDIATE removal of any or all of the departments you have nominated, will not IMMEDIATELY ground an airline - other staff are able to "cover" areas such as cabin crew duties, ticketing, (often) scheduling and rostering - which is pretty much static from month-to-month, and unless the aircraft are due for maintenance (sheduled or unsheduled), it would be some time before the effect of lame's would be noticed.
Flybygirl, catering is non-existent on many low cost operators these days (pax carry their own refreshments aboard), and -yet once again - I have seen the "suits" (attempting) to load the cargo during a stoppage by loaders.
IMMEDIATE removal of the pilot group means IMMEDIATE cessation of flying ie. grounding of the airline's aircraft - THAT was my point (phew!).
In this case however, it would seem that the mis-management team, of Turnbull, Tyler, Bartlett and associates, believe they have pre-empted a withdrawl of pilots' labour, and have VOLUNTARILY decided to incur financial losses to Cathay, by ceasing services to some destinations.
The corollary of my point might be also be proven, by showing that the REMOVAL of Cathay's current management would cause an INCREASE in revenue for the Company!