sadly i wish this myth was not true but it is.
and as you made a reference to the French perhaps they would like to read this thread and see how KLM and the VNV deal with cross border mergers! useful information for them when Air France and KLM merge in exactly how do deal with it. Now lets see...... all KLM contracted pilots are to be treated the same as they treated the Brits.......... there would be an outcry!! national TV strikes, the VNV would be straight to IFALPA for support........ however i do believe the French have a greater sense of fair play, but maybe not....... only time will tell.