Think about it this way fella's - with 17 more aircraft you will still have a crappy QOL, low days off, and low pay if you were to sign that contract right now to keep those planes (that is, of course, assuming they won't give them to you, which is BS IMO). Might as well use the aircraft as a negotiating point on YOUR side. If management wants 17 more airplanes (added revenue) then they'll get 'em on your terms. No reason to take a pay cut (or a reduced pay advance) for growth. Luckily your MEC seems to know what it's doing.