Attempting to negotiate with Ops or Finance at this stage is doomed. They have made their position clear; it is time to counteroffer. A union is what you want

Attempting to negotiate with Ops or Finance at this stage is doomed. They have made their position clear; it is time to counteroffer. A union is what you want here, that can credibly threaten real pain. Depending on how that needs to be communicated, after the people with the purse strings take you seriously, then you sit down to talk.