Several large U.S. employers have extracted major concessions from their labor force and their union, only to tromp on them again and again having proven their desire to hang onto their jobs.

Corporate negotiators see that as a sign of weakness.

Union negotiators, seeing that their principal risk is loss of membership, acquiesce, thereby keeping their members under one umbrella, but sacrificing their wages and benefits. The union, after all, works for the union, and no longer truly represents the workers' interests.

The labor force, therefore, is on its own, once again, and has to consider its own interests. If they want more pay, they have to provide more benefit to their employer. If they do that, they'll have no trouble keeping their jobs, and their wages.

The days of "get a job and then retire" are long gone.

RE