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I appreciate that you believe that, but that's simply not based in any historical fact. The height of the AFL, IWW, etc. in terms of power was when their power

I appreciate that you believe that, but that's simply not based in any historical fact. The height of the AFL, IWW, etc. in terms of power was when their power to strike, especially wildcat strike, was the highest. At that time unions had more twice the membership amongst working people than they do now. Hardly a sign of unions winning because they keep workers out (racism aside).

AmericanChopper 8y ago
You’re confusing a nebulous idea of political influence with real outcomes. Strikes have been used to resolve labor disputes, but if your goal is long term and meanful improvement to working conditions and remuneration, then the only times unions have ever achieved that is by restricting access to the profession. Salaries are determined by market forces, political influence will never be able to exert much pressure on the equilibrium. The only time unions have truly succeeded in this is by limiting labor supply over the long term.
- femiagbabiaka 8y ago
  Again, just not true. > Strikes have been used to resolve labor disputes, but if your goal is long term and meanful improvement to working conditions and remuneration, then the only times unions have ever achieved that is by restricting access to the profession. Collective bargaining is how unions achieve long term and meaningful improvement to working conditions and renumeration. > Salaries are determined by market forces, political influence will never be able to exert much pressure on the equilibrium. This is just demonstrably untrue -- we've been in a bull market for almost a decade. Worker pay -- in contrast to company profits -- hasn't even kept up with inflation. Something is missing. > The only time unions have truly succeeded in this is by limiting labor supply over the long term. Do you have any citations for this? Any data?

AmericanChopper 8y ago

You’re confusing a nebulous idea of political influence with real outcomes. Strikes have been used to resolve labor disputes, but if your goal is long term and meanful improvement to working conditions and remuneration, then the only times unions have ever achieved that is by restricting access to the profession. Salaries are determined by market forces, political influence will never be able to exert much pressure on the equilibrium. The only time unions have truly succeeded in this is by limiting labor supply over the long term.

femiagbabiaka 8y ago
Again, just not true. > Strikes have been used to resolve labor disputes, but if your goal is long term and meanful improvement to working conditions and remuneration, then the only times unions have ever achieved that is by restricting access to the profession. Collective bargaining is how unions achieve long term and meaningful improvement to working conditions and renumeration. > Salaries are determined by market forces, political influence will never be able to exert much pressure on the equilibrium. This is just demonstrably untrue -- we've been in a bull market for almost a decade. Worker pay -- in contrast to company profits -- hasn't even kept up with inflation. Something is missing. > The only time unions have truly succeeded in this is by limiting labor supply over the long term. Do you have any citations for this? Any data?