It undoubtedly does have an effect on future negotiations. During negotiations, both sides use items referred to as “leverage” to go back and forth with various offers. Different items vary in importance and therefore the amount of “leverage” they entail. If one side has everything they want, why would they put any real effort into negotiating with the other side?

The inability to attract quality candidates was a large item of importance for the company during the last round of negotiations. The company now has a steady supply of candidates and a year long waiting list for training dates. The union currently has no real negotiating power since they have absolutely nothing to offer in exchange for any contractual improvements. Such an imbalance is what can lead to long-drawn out contract disputes.