I'm probably in the minority with this thinking but to me, the rate really isn't even up for discussion. The Big 3 basically all have the same rates for 319/320/321/neo/737 and EVERY other airline that doesn't yet have those rates negotiates before we do.

I'm thinking by the time we do get to that portion of the contract, it'll be difficult for the company to argue against what just about everyone else has. It's why i'm not stressing on how long negotiations go...

Now, that could backfire if we as a pilot group justify less behind some ridiculous thought process of drop/swap/trade items and the like...