Brix, good points, especially the first. For those who are quacking about how great EK is, please let us know the other airlines throughout the world where it is a requirement to formally apply to leave your base on days off. And approval is not a formality. There are already several who have been denied permission as scheduling have told management they would like to be able to call them on their days off to fly, due crew shortages.
Uplink, why is it different here? Because people have uprooted their families and moved to an unfamiliar country and are essentially starting life again. Might be ok if you are from a crap place, but some people have left nice countries to do this. The least they can expect is that their contract is not altered continually. I'm not talking about promises in an interview, but the contract they have on joining. Part of that contract is the requirements for command. Not sure how long you have been here, but it used to be 4,500 hrs and 4 successful PPC's. That part of the FOM formed part of our contract, and like so much else, was changed on a whim, with no consultation. That is why these F/O's are unhappy.
And BTW, I sit in the left seat, and have been discovering for close on 7 years now.