A free ATPL yep fair enough but they did get treated badly -- like Training Capts sending them home during line training cos they weren't allowed to train them as if they got line checked they would become union members etc etc ....
Anyhow, most have seen the light and they have moved on and done well for themselves getting commands in EZY, Excel and GB and others at EK or Ethiad and Dragonair and BA...
EI is dead man's shoes now -- the old boys have gone early so no commands for a long time and no movement on the fleets so that A330 RHS won't come quickly.
The good days at EI have gone -- Gone forever !