Sorry to disagree, BusyB, but the action of the HKAOA, and the resulting dismissal of the concerned CX pilots was simply poor timing, no more, no less.
Pilots, and in a broader context, pilot associations/unions have a very unfortunate habit of acting without reasonable care and attention to TIMING.
Now, IF the HKAOA had decided to have their so called "discussions' with CX at a slightly more opportune time...like NOW, when CX is busy, profits are growing, and traffic has picked up considerably, the outcome might well have been different.
Sadly, they did not, and CX simply took advantage of the situation at the time, and of the HK legal process, which apparently leaves the employee on the short end of the stick.
Live and learn?
For most, the lesson is lost in the bravado of the moment.
Pilots (in general) and especially pilot associations/unions seemingly never learn
CX acted the way they did simply because they COULD.
No more, no less.