Ettore, you're quite right: There isn't any indication of flight safety implication in the "open letter". But at the same time, union board member Martin Gutknecht, said to SDA (Swiss news agency): "During normal operation there isn't any danger to safety, but it could lead to it during an engine problem or the like".
It is also noteworthy that the "open letter" was only open to the management of Swiss and to the board of directors of Swiss. The letter itself has been made public by Swiss International itself - while threatening the 52 pilots at the same time that they would face immediate dismissal if they would do so!
Crew factor for an average regional aircraft is 8 to 10 pilots per aircraft, so 70 for 7 is quite normal.
And Etihad:
Forget any job offering for Saab pilots. They are offered one month salary per year of service, while they offer a wide body job for the former Swissair pilots with an offer to come back if they don't like it (although only for a limited number).
Crossair pilots are threatened to be dismissed in a wild order (whose aircraft that go away those pilots will be fired), while Swissair guys go strictly according seniority (and getting another expensive retraining).
Kapt. Ive - you're right that those pilots do not deserve a better treatment than what they did with people like you. Mainly it's not a question of discrimination but a lack of strategical and tactical know how on working disputes. They chose the wrong way then as they choose it now, that's why Swiss is where it is now and why it soon isn't anymore
