after having refused to accept reality for so long, AZ pilots
AZ pilots work as hard or harder and for less money than all comparable EU majors, and while the unions representing them have not helped them or their image, they are NOT the cause of the present disaster, no matter what the italian government or CAI would have you believe.
They have been subjected to a merciless media campaign (which has clearly worked even on people who should know better, ie fellow pilots)
They have seen their airline deteriorate from a world-class major to a hobbling medium-sized carrier in the last 10/15 years, and are now being presented with a sign-or-be-fired contract with a number of extremely unpalatable conditions attached.
They're bloody right to be demanding more from a government and Prime Minister who based part of his recent victorious campaign on promises that AZ would remain Italian and that he had a better plan than the AF one which was "too harsh".
Specifically with regards to your post, philipat, ex-AZ pilots have been welcomed into CX, EK and any other number of world-class airlines... even the industrial relations bogey-man himself (MOL) has claimed in the past he would welcome AZ pilots with open arms.
The question is not whether AZ pilots would be acceptable, rather will any jobs be available to
anyone in the present economic climate.
In this sense AZ pilots are playing a very dangerous game... but at this point they are so frustrated they are willing to risk it all.