The last five years of my career I negotiated contracts for my Local. There were two main take aways, first the union members always demanded more than I knew they were going to get. The second was employer's negotiators were just that, hired guns whose jobs depended on bringing whatever was negotiated in at the lowest possible rate even if it was unlivable. It also wasn't just salary, also pensions, health care contribution and working conditions. I still have a copy of the last contract I negotiated there are 27 signatures on their side and mine. There is a book titled "The North Will Rise Again" which is probably out of print, and it laid out what employers and banks did to make a profit without regard to the employees and many times at their expense. As far as AI and Mexico if employers believe they can save a dime per unit they will do so, no matter if they are paying their employees $50 or $5. I know many people are against unions for one reason or another, but I hope you understand that nonunion employee's wages and benefits increase, when union rates and conditions increase, as these nonunion employers have to compete in the labor market.
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