Market economies set prices by supply and demand. If enough candidate employees are willing to work for less than the union is demanding, then the union has alm

Market economies set prices by supply and demand. If enough candidate employees are willing to work for less than the union is demanding, then the union has almost no leverage to have their demands met. That is unless they can use regulation to exclude non-union members from employment, like lawyers, doctors and pilots have accomplished. Striking can have an influence on supply, but it’s influence is very limited by the fact that striking can at best represent a temporary disruption to business. How much an employer could potentially afford is not relevant as long as there is somebody willing to do the job for less.