With the total lack of crew to keep the tattered schedule in some form of running operations, the cockpit crew could easily afford to go the "work to rule" method and there would be no repercussions, unless of course the MD's,CEO's etc are prepared to cancel hand fulls of flights and take a serious cut in their personal bonuses, then only should the pilots should watch their backs.
I think the Pilots actually have a winning hand with management, they just don't realize it, or are scared and not prepared to use this advantage, and would rather play the submissive kind, but you can only push them so far and the bubble will burst.