One fundamental difference with the position unions are in is the fact that many of what unions fought for in the 'classic era' [weekends, 8-hour days, child labor prohibitions, holidays, equal opportunity] are now LAW. Agencies like the EEOC and OSHA are now in charge of the kinds of things that unions fought for decades ago. So unions are now looking for another "raison d'etre" and it's difficult to do.