That is an interesting chicken and egg problem. A strong union requires members who can demonstrate that prolonged work stoppages are a credible threat. If the employer thinks everyone will be starving and begging to come back after a week, the union has no power.
In other words, in order for a union to become strong, wages already need to be up to allow the workers to be able amass considerable savings to get them through the months and years when they aren't working. So higher wages have to come first. But to complicate matters, once workers have that, they often start to feel like they don't need a union.
The one time when unions did become strong, workers were so desperate for safer working conditions that potentially being thrown out on the street and left to starve was seen as a better option than being crushed by a machine. But the law now ensures that workers are just comfortable enough to prevent an uprising like that again.
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That is an interesting chicken and egg problem. A strong union requires members who can demonstrate that prolonged work stoppages are a credible threat. If the employer thinks everyone will be starving and begging to come back after a week, the union has no power.
In other words, in order for a union to become strong, wages already need to be up to allow the workers to be able amass considerable savings to get them through the months and years when they aren't working. So higher wages have to come first. But to complicate matters, once workers have that, they often start to feel like they don't need a union.
The one time when unions did become strong, workers were so desperate for safer working conditions that potentially being thrown out on the street and left to starve was seen as a better option than being crushed by a machine. But the law now ensures that workers are just comfortable enough to prevent an uprising like that again.