Said better than I could. Alternatively, this is a form of negotiation, just a moderately collective one (not to be confused with collective bargaining): you now need to defend your salary to your peers, not just your boss. Meanwhile, when your peers push on open salaries, that is how they are negotiating, because they don't find the present approach optimal for them. So, like all good business books encourage, they're doing something creative/unexpected but completely above-board to improve their bargaining position.