Sure, and it doesn't hurt relations with the rank and file to let them blame the government for the settlement, rather than the risk of them thinking the leaders didn't get enough.

Even binding arbitration imposed by the government isn't too bad. Only in a case like the postal workers (which was surely just spite on the government's part, since the post office is about as unessential a formerly essential service as there is), where the workers _know_ they got less than management offered, can it really hurt.

andrew