Mate i heard figures of 160 (all bases) but certainly dont quote on that.
Yeap, your spot on - we are VERY short - hence most weekends the Nou and AKL's go to LH.
The problem is that alot of the casuals on contract B dont make themselves available for weekend work (they dont get any extra $$) so every weekend they struggle.
In saying that, i have been drafted alot even on weekdays.
Why they offered it? Dunno, maybe a goodwill gesture (i use that term very loosely) before they totally fist us!