With the current oversupply of airline-experienced pilots available, Cathay "management" are probably feeling that the hundreds of millions of dollars they've allowed to be lost so far, instead of simply sitting down and talking WITH their pilots, might end up as an investment. Ansett, Australian, East-West, IPEC, Ansett New Zealand, Eastern, and Continental also conducted campaigns against their pilots using a similar mindset. ALL of those airlines are now defunct!
If CX "management" were to consider replacing some/most/all of their current pilots with new recruits - and certainly it IS possible - do they seriously believe that the SAME problems are not going to recur within a very short period of time?
It is possible, Wiz, that the HKAOA decided not to institute an upgrade ban to prevent CX management (in the short-medium term) from employing direct entry captains.
IMHO, the longer I see this Dispute continuing, the shorter I see CX's future!