The Simpsons was on point about American unions: “One of these days we’ll form a union, and get the fair and equitable treatment we deserve! Then we’ll go too far, and become corrupt and shiftless…”
Unions today rely on historical legacies because they haven’t done much recently for society. In fact, any positive contribution must be weighed against declining K-12 educational outcomes due to teachers’ union influence; increased racial conflict because of police unions lobbying to protect even their worst members from accountability; and ballooning public pension obligations that are bankrupting cities across America and forcing some of them to sell off assets to private interests.
Private sector unions have unfortunately become entangled in the antipathy against public sector unions but have not adequately distanced themselves from their government counterparts. Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO supported the Citizens United outcome in its Supreme Court amicus brief, further exposing its modern-day elitism. If the most unions can do for society is increasing the minimum wage to 15 USD, even in cities where most entry-level workers are teenagers or short-term workers, their influence will continue to wane. Just my two cents.
Bonus: https://willworkforjustice.blogspot.sg/2017/08/malia-vella.html
