Probably a way for the company to get around the permanent employment deal. They will claim that they offered the pilots a permanent employment as agreed, and they didn't want it.
Since the contractors only can "take it or leave it" and not strike or negotiate legally the way I have understood it, this will unfortunately, likely be the end of discussion.
Most people will not "leave it" since the options are either ryr or China
I do really hope that I have concieved the situation incorrectly though since this would be another nail in the coffin of the market in Europe.