Be or that they think he should be. How is them coming to him and having an open conversation, dishonest? Would it be more honest if they just dropped it on him and didn’t talk to him about it? That would seem to be the jerk move to me…
In my mind sitting down and talking with somebody and explaining what they want/need as far as new job responsibilities is about as honest as an employer can be. Now does it suck if he isn’t fairly paid, sure. But that seems very different than being dishonest - to me at least?