While I agree with waveflyer on the East/West debacle, the above is certainly true. Binding arbitration and sticking to your word is apparently only important to waveflyer when he isn't involved.
Whether you like it or not, in the Southwest/AirTran SLI, the written agreements were stuck to. There was "hardball" played by both sides, but all the written agreements were adhered to. The only pending legal/NMB action is against your union (ALPA), and no one else.
Some people on both sides are unhappy, and bitch about the result. However, if we had gotten to binding arbitration as per the agreements (which we did not), then we would have gone along with the results. And arguably, the exact same people would still be unhappy and bitching.
By the way, how did this suddenly morph into an AirTran/Southwest thing? I thought this thread was about USAPA. Back to East vs. West: "You suck!".... "Well, you suck more!"
Bubba