That is to say, what happens after all the East furloughs are recalled, does the airline hire new pilots, or do the West furloughs get the jobs.
I think what you said is the most equitable, but also very unlikely.
With only 87 east furloughed, I'm guessing out of the 87 that at least 20-25 have found aviation employment elsewhere not counting career changers who may not return. These 40 recalls with deferals ought to get pretty far down the list. I really find it hard to believe that the company would hire off the street with pilots still furloughed on west. This would just create another poop storm for the comapny and usapa. I think there is zero chance of this happening.