It seems similar to the Continental pilots absorbing the Express pilots. Good plan until Express was sold in revenge with a convenient contract.
That might be the precursor to Comair, once they are back in the seats at full staffing.
The American reality is quickly becoming the modernized 'golden rule, "He who CONTROLS the gold makes the rules." An old Lorenzoism.
The pilots at either company are goingt to be faced with, "You guys figure out who works the cheapest, so we'll know who to train."
At one point, Southern Air bought that simulator outfit out of Newark, I don't know who has the ownership now. Whoever it is will probably get the training contract for the surviving company.
In any case, GE did themselves a big favor. Keep an eye on the resulting freight contracts.