Not Quite
CP Dude ;
Not true there are plenty of guys willing to give the classic commands a try. They are not being given their chance because of polotics. They are too young or their training record is not pristene or they have run afoul of some training Captain.
At CX we have the ridiculous situation that the longer you are here the more likely you are to get a bad report (line check or sim).Then you are held back from command. If you come as a DEFO and do your command within the first two years you can get through. If a candidate with the same experience waits and begins to loose his flying ability while flying longhaul relief then gets a bad report, that is it wait another year Cat b'd etc.
It is ridiculous.
So yes it is a contract violation (IMHO)to hire rapid command (direct entry Captains) while arbitrarily and unfairly holding current pilots back from command courses. As for Union, well we have an association but we only have 50% representation so understandably no influence on the companies policies etc. All we can do is go to court and that takes a long time to resolve.
Hapy flying !