There's always the option of stopping short of HKG and get another crew take over, maybe that's what the plan was.
Also mate, there aren't any pay negotitations going on at the moment, or ever in the past!! Let's not get confused here.
We get what is forced down our throats!!
Another thing is "commander's discretion" is not really a discretion, it is EXPECTED that you use it. I have yet to see a CN not use it in fear of getting demoted back to the right seat.