Its all too easy
It is very easy to make changes that do not affect you. It sounds like a great idea by simply saying, "We can save $$$ if the pilots work 30% more and we don't pay them for it." However, to ask office staff to work 30% more (Come in on Saturdays.) would not work well because you would not only have to face them everyday but you yourself would have to work 30% more. (Go the extra mile.) You could perhaps motivate them to do it short term to help the company but long term would result in poor moral. This poor moral of the pilots is far, far removed from the office walls, and since it does not show up adversely in the performance of the company, it is deemed as a good change. If you look at the changes that have occurred in the past 7-8 years with the exception of the Bonus most have been targeted at the flight crew. Simply because it is an easy way to save $.