Per Kurt Ullman:
Since unions topped out as %age of workers 60 years ago and has been
downhill ever since and since the best time for workers was arguably in
the 70s and 80s, it is really hard to suggest unions had all that much
to do with it.

I'm just looking at the contrast between people in my family doing the
same jobs in the USA and in Germany (where unions are pretty much
universal).

The difference in pay, working conditions, and benefits is just huge.

I had my own little experience working for a large electric company. We
had a vote on whether to unionize and the workers voted unions down.

Before that, the company had unionization hanging over it's head and
life was pretty good - mainly, I think, because they didn't want to give
employees a reason to unionize.

Once unionization was no longer on the horizon, things deteriorated
quickly. Before they made me an offer I couldn't refuse, we were all
made to understand that, among other things, we were expected to work no
less than 50 hours a week - for 40 hours pay.

There's plenty more in that vein, but the bottom line is that once they
knew there was no danger of a union coming in, they tightened the screws
without mercy - and kept tightening them.

But that was just one anecdote from one person. The USA-Germany thing
is what really formed my opinion.
--
Pete Cresswell