Wizofoz,
It seems to me that what you and a lot of other people don’t understand, is that yes it may look very attractive to join Cathay right now (expat salary, housing allowance, big aircraft, etc.). But that is exactly what the Cathay pilots are fighting to maintain, that’s why there is a dispute and that’s why there is a ban in effect.
So even if you are a GA pilot flying pistons around Australia, then you should be able to understand that this is for everyones good. Yes of course the Cathay pilots are fighting for their own good, but they are definitely also fighting for all the future pilots of Cathay Pacific. If they don’t stand up now and say stop, then I predict that no expat pilots would want to join Cathay in a few years.
Is it fair that the Cathay pilots are accepting upgrades while the recruitment ban is on? Of course it is. Taking your command for an airline is the biggest step in any pilots career. Saying no to an upgrade during a conflict like this, may mean that you never get the command and your whole career will then be wasted.
A FO taking a command upgrade leaves space for a SO to upgrade to FO, which means that the company will need someone to replace the SO, this is where the recruitment ban becomes effective.
My point being: Waiting a year to apply to Cathay won’t do much to the rest of your life long career. But saying no to a command upgrade for a major airline, which is the ultimate goal for any pilot, may ruin the rest of your career and make all those years of hard work wasted.