They may, but that's when you have to politely say no. Definitely! Too many guys still don't. It really and sincerely eludes me why .....
There has been a dude lately that effectively agreed to do the ORD-DXB sector with 3, after his fellow skipper reported sick.
Imagine this, after a ULR and only 24 hours rest!!!
This is the real self inflicted MORE INSANITY.
Hmmm...not much logical sense in your example. I don't know the circumstances of the flight you mention, but YYZ, BOS, JFK, etc all operate with 3 crew at certain times of the year, both sectors, not just one. Is that not worse? Do you decline those flights when rostered? I doubt it.
I think the whole point of operating with reduced augment is to save it for situations such as a sick crewmember: irregular ops, which - after careful consideration of all factors - can be completed safely.
The problem is, EK rosters to the limit of discretion, only considering what is considered (by their cozily related regulator) legal, not what is safe. And THAT is when guys have to push back.
Or just leave and go somewhere sane.