Cyberbird - how long you been in this business??? Most airlines operate leased aircraft, very few are owned outright by the operators....
If CC are being offered unpaid leave I think you'll find that's due to delayed aircraft deliveries!! Can you understand that there's a 'lead' time to new aircraft arriving? The company must then make sure these aircraft will be crewed - then machinists go on strike for 3 months and hey presto, lots of extra CC.. Business is not poor, believe me - especially now oil's below $50!!