Callbutton,
".....we have managed to draft an agreement that will pay an A320 captain $160k+ for 700 hours per year, $200k if you fly 900."
Shame, shame, shame!!
The PRIORITY should have been JOBS for ANSETT pilots - NOT salary!
The APA (as the REPRESENTATIVE of the Ansett pilot group) should NEVER have agreed to allowing pilots' jobs to be terminated because of (biased) check reports.
I'm sorry to have to recall something quoted by a senior Virgin Blue pilot, however the APA's (disgraceful) handling of these events drives it even further home:
"The Ansett pilots, in general, display a culture of INEXPERIENCE!".