But was there any other party to negotiate with?  No.  Would the Feds have come to the table? Probably not.  

They can't strike, probably don't want to and so they negotiate in good faith and come up with a creative solution.  Good for them.

Feds/provincial politicians, who can you trust?  Few. 

Two of them and only one taxpayer to send up the money to those hungry souls in the halls of power in Toronto & Ottawa.