Uncle Wiggily you are spot on. It is easyJets managment dream to eventually have only contractors on Z scale T and C's, with pay to fly monkeys in the RHS.
A number of years ago the directors commissioned the Berger report which actively encourages the use of contractors as a way of de unionising the workforce, and reducing T and C overall. Combine that with the general apathy amongst easyJet pilots, who either believe it doesn't affect them, or are too scared even of their own shadow to stand up to management, and you can see why we are doomed.