walla...
Not "retrenched". Read this:
the 49 fired included 5 out of 20 union committee members and 4 out of 7 union negotiators. It also included the ex President, ex Vice President and ex Treasurer. The overall spread of pilots ranged from the most junior (2 years in the Company) to the most senior pilots (approaching retirement and with 23 years’ service). Although 13% of company pilots were non-union, 48 of the 49 fired on July 09 were union members. The one non-union pilot had the same first and last name as a union pilot who was not dismissed and it is widely believed to have been a case of mistaken identity.
This is not retrenchment.
As to how they're doing, I can't speak for them, but it's not fun, I'm sure. A couple of lads have found alternate employment, but it's rumoured that Cathay has put out a blacklist of the 49 in an attempt to prevent them being rehired anywhere. Sadly, one of the fellows fell to his death a few months back.