Fact is that the contract scope was originally cut at 70 seats during the negotiations. Once DALAPA agreed to and voted in their large allotment of 76 seat(for the 717's) Puchela and the NMB agreed with UAL mgmt that this is the new line. UAL ALPA's choice was accept or no contract movement.

Blame, IMHO, goes to 1) DALPA and, mostly, ALPA National for not having a coordinated plan with UAL ALPA, et al, to keep scope under 70. and, 2) the RLA for allowing companies to be able to stall negotiations to infinity.