Actually, I think what he did with it was what he should have done. I doubt it ruined the relationship, and from the sounds of the article, nothing indicates that. If anything, it could have strengthened it because he kept his word and approached the situation level headed.
He didn't go on the offensive when talking to the manager. It would have put the manager on the defensive and surely ruined the relationship then.
Instead, he tried to take the approach of what can he do to make more. He finally got constructive feedback, got a clear explanation of why the differences, and asked for harder assignments to prove himself.
"He didn't go on the offensive when talking to the manager."
Right, and in return the manager put the squeeze on him which cost him thousands if not tens of thousands over the years. He should have
* gone to the manager first and have asked for a higher raise (in a non-confrontational way).
* used it as leverage for a better description of what he needed to do to get a higher raise in the next review round
* not let him be pushed in a corner where he's being compared to his colleagues. This is a sure loss position. You need to differentiate yourself so that you are freed from the mental chains of other people's salaries, and you can argue a higher salary on individual merit. This is a rookie mistake I hear so often (and that people have thanked me for pointing it out to them when I discussed with them about their upcoming salary negotiations).
(apart from this, it's refreshing not to have post scores visible!)
He didn't go on the offensive when talking to the manager. It would have put the manager on the defensive and surely ruined the relationship then.
Instead, he tried to take the approach of what can he do to make more. He finally got constructive feedback, got a clear explanation of why the differences, and asked for harder assignments to prove himself.