Swany, the lack of pay rise has nothing to do with DECs. It has everything to do with every LCC FO in Europe and the US selling their soul to get a gig here. Courses are filled for the financial year. Don't ever remember that happening before. They now have a holding pool of FO wannabes, can't ever remember that happening either. Supply and demand controls our pay, and it would seem the ball falls on the supply side at the moment.
Luckily the FOs that were shafted by the hiring of DECs have their commands now. Current FOs decided DEC hiring was acceptable when they signed up. So I can't see why you would be concerned by this.
The Don