When I bid IOE trips, I noticed when really short staffed they always released you the evening prior. Otherwise, it was 50/50 with "we never received your paperwork for this trip". ALPA had no interest in fixing this issue, I asked them. I figure at some point soon they will just require all FO's to show for the trip, and then be released by the LCA. Also, 23.G .5 specifies exactly who can release FO's and it is not scheduling. It's the LCP, but they are told not to release FO's, and it is a scheduling responsibility.