I don't know why people are so opposed to this explanation. You didn't say all labor practices improved because of productivity gains. And no doubt collective a

I don't know why people are so opposed to this explanation. You didn't say all labor practices improved because of productivity gains. And no doubt collective action played some role in the current state of things, but so did a lot of other factors. To claim otherwise without a very good argument smacks of ideological possession. The vehemence with which such an explanation is insisted upon is revealing.