It was quite a long time ago so I don't remember all the details. I have a recollection that the managers paid themselves pretty generously, but I can't say explicitly.

As it was expressed to me the basis for the decision was that the "leaders" didn't believe the workers could handle the load as I suggested, so they went with their original plan.

At the time I attributed it to their rigidity but it could have been about relative salaries. Here I thought doing it my way would actually cost less when all added up.