If you were selling your house, would you accept the first offer?
If you were buying a car, would you accept the first offer?
I bet the answer is no, if your smart!
Like I said before, get some professional representation (hire some Mac Bank HR guru's or a good HR industrial relations expert) and absoluely give it to them. Be smart, learn from others mistakes! Call their bluffs and gain some respect from management that you guys are serious and professional. Sorry to say guy's, pilots are the worst when it comes to deal brokering and contract negotiating, look at the history and swath of spastic EBA's that we have negotiated for ourselves.
THERE IS MASSIVE PILOT SHORTAGE GOING ON!!!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!!WAKE UP!!!!!!!