DJCCGUY
i might be looking at things differently than you but at least the wannabee-newbees will get a pay increase every year for 5 years or even 7 years if they stay, whereas at the end of 3 years we will have to bargain (sell our souls) for another increase.
a lot of the companies shopping list is not just about saving money now they benefit long term on the things they want to introduce. The global financial crisis will be long gone and we'll still be punching out an extra 140 hours a year for an extra $1200 to $1500 a year.
On the bright side my health management meeting should last about 2 hours per roster, thats 26 hours less than 140 - looking better by the minute! Maybe I could cut that down with some development meetings as well.