(Apparently they were still flying 70 hours per month for 50% pay)
Not morally correct. I once worked for an airline where they allowed shared duties: i.e. 10/28 days duty instead of 20/28. You never did SBY's and flew max out for 10 days; all for 50% pay. After a union was introduced they managed an agreement that 50% pay meant max 450hrs per year. That was the best they could achieve; thus you could produce >50% on a weekly/monthly basis. At least they stopped the 600hrs pa for 50% pay. However, they still won because the company average was <900hrs per pilot.