Things have moved on since Ernest Gann's time - fortunately.
Things haven't changed a jot in this profession since Gann's time, read "Fate is the Hunter" (incidentally a must-read for all airline pilots). Gann was knocked back to F/O and "furloughed" numerous times due to seniority.
Seniority protects the airlines more than it protects us, by disallowing mobility. We can't move to BA/LH/QF without starting again, so obviously we don't go anywhere, and so airlines don't have to compete for our talent/experience.
Imagine if Lawyers, Doctors or bankers had to start again as nurse, intern or accountant every time they wanted to change employer. As it is these professions prize experience and ability, allowing top performers to attract real money, and move only when offered a much better deal.
The ideal would be to move to an internationally recognized seniority system where total flight time corrected by factors for type of experience (GA, military, shorthaul, longhaul) would be the basis for hiring and upgrades, not simply time in your present company.
But even as I write this I can hear Lennon singing "you may say I'm a dreamer" in the background...
