Labor

In June, the National Labor Relations Board issued proposed rules to modernize and streamline the process by which a union can be certified to represent a group of workers. The hearing and comment period on those rules — which generated extensive activity especially on the employer side — just ended. What questions are raised by the arguments that have been made?

Chrysler employees, we are given to understand, are thrilled to be working in the auto industry, even if they are forced to accept wages much lower than their colleagues. What do we learn about what this means for their lives? Nothing.

Per a "job saving" union-management deal, many auto workers are to be paid sharply lower wages at the Orion plant. They face a much reduced standard of living. Say goodbye to middle-class life?

But belief that gains will eventually supplant short-term pain with broadly shared prosperity (as once was the rule) isn't necessarily so.

Today’s robbing of the NYC employees’ health insurance fund as a “realistic” means to pay to avoid layoffs will become tomorrow’s hysterically anti-union “health benefits costs are out of control” rallying cry. City officials — neither the “education” mayor, nor the backbone-free City Council — are just not prepared to pay for vital services.

Today’s robbing of the NYC employees’ health insurance fund as a “realistic” means to pay to avoid layoffs will become tomorrow’s hysterically anti-union “health benefits costs are out of control” rallying cry.

But belief that gains will eventually supplant short-term pain with broadly shared prosperity (as once was the rule) isn't necessarily so.