Relax, Don't do it...
Howdy folks:
From one of those at Ek to the rest at EK, take it easy.
Before we hire any direct-entry captains, the company will make it's way down the entire seniority list and pluck anyone qualified for the command positions which are required.
Any subsequent shortfall would indeed be made up by direct entry captains but they would only be for the 340, an airplane which is unlikely to be in our fleet past mid-2005. An airline equipped with 777-300ER's has no use for a slow, low useful load airplane with high-operating costs. Ask anyone in our accounting deparment.
ERGO - this too shall pass and will not delay your command in the slightest.
As an aside 411A is absolutely correct again: the company will do PRECISELY what it wants and union power is dead, dead, dead.
Any questions?