The BF email said:
"I had made one reference during my talks with the first officers that I wished to research the contract to confirm how this could possibly be considered by the Company."
...
"Before I had an answer, all four had responded in the affirmative."
...
"In follow-up calls with the Company I did bring this up just for a general discussion and it was agreed that a pilot not accepting this offer would not have considered it a withdrawal"
Sounds to me like something got lost in translation, everyone jumped the gun, someone freaked out on APC, and now everyone is CYA.