We know they are understaffed. We also know that they know it. They are junior manning and extending like crazy. There is nothing in your manual that says you have to answer your phone when they call on a day off. IN FACT, the regs read that time off is free of duty or responsibility. Answering when they call is a duty or responsibility.

Above that, has anyone ever heard of a furlough where the company denied voluntary furlough or a leave of absence? At first it was minimum one year, then two years, as they 'wanted to make sure you didn't just come back in 30 days' and now they are denied? Something is up. I am sure it is unrelated to the APA negotiations.

It is simple not to pick up OT. You have been living without it anyway in most bases since it hasn't been available. If this was a furlough due to financial reasons and line cuts, I MIGHT (read: still would not) see the point in picking up OT with people on the streets. But this is clearly something political and we are being used as the pawns in a game of airline chess. Personally, I won't pick up a bit of OT and my phone isn't getting answered on a weekend.