Oh well, it's just "aviation", never mind, get a life, etc, etc....
Actually to get a better life (Ts&Cs for you and others), sometimes you have to fight for it. That is risky for those who have much to loose. No one wants to be a martyr so a better way is to get a majority of the workforce to work with a constructive union or by jointly funding a decent employment lawyer.
In one sense "aviation" is not a special case. Indeed, there have been many cases of hire and fire with greed and unfairness issues well before human flight began but the pay for type rating, pay to fly passengers or zero to hero in 250 hrs schemes are pretty new.
Now, these flexi contract & pay to work schemes (e.g: bmi line training) are destroying Ts&Cs like nothing before. The change in the EU to a low houred CPL (used to be 700 hr CAA UK CPL) has changed the marketplace. The old build experience routes (instructing, survey, GA etc) have been almost ignored over the past 10 years.
Part of the issue is impatience. Some newbies want instant success - approved course and an airline job. It is possible for a considerable price.
Another part is greed - sometimes called "well it's the current economic climate and these part time, low houred FOs are so much cheaper to retain".
In between are the flight schools who have to earn a crust but these days seek to replace traditional airline recruitment with a complete package. The latter can prevent experienced DEP recruitment - especially when it is in the school's interest to place their own part time Captains or low houred cadets with an airline.
It can change for the better and it doesn't require an economic upturn - it requires thoughtful, intelligent and courageous people like you to get involved.