Cpt Dude,
Had you joined Ac in 1996 , you would have made around 45k in 96 and 1997.From 1998 to today ( about 8 years) you never would have made less than 110 k /year as you would never had gone lower than A320 FO. Depending on what you bid you might have even spent time as a DC9 Capt in YYZ at 150K/year and today would be senior wide body f/o , well above the 120k/year mark.
As for layoffs you would not even have come close with a 1996 seniority.
Check your facts before you ramble on.