What about the business owners that see the constant demands for higher wages and lower productivity by union workers dragging down the businesses they work for and the economy of entire regions? Should we unionize too? Above average wages only helps you if costs remain the same and the business you extorted the money from doesn't collapse.

Both of you make valid points. On one hand the union did mandate breaks and a regular work shift for it's employees which has only helped every worker. At the same time "slow walking" a job to extend the length of the job and i.e. make more money, is a real problem. I for one will not put up with it on a job that I am on. I will not stand for anyone making a job last longer than a dead line. I also think that a new school of thought is coming up with my generation to the same effect.

Productivity is at an all time high and wages have been stagnant since the 70's. I don't think that the businesses are in as much trouble from unions as you think.

but it's a good talking point (lie)

A change of demographics and automated processes have combined to really hold down wages. Automation dramatically increases per worker productivity and the normalization of the 2 working parent family and single working parents has essentially doubled the labor force size. Not that I'm knocking working parents, it's just supply and demand, it's hard to demand more money when there are twice as many people available to do the same amount of required work.

Then, of course, there are the issues of globalization. Many nations don't share our standard of living and of course can therefore make products significantly cheaper, as labor costs are a much smaller portion of costs. Competing against that is tough and makes it near impossible for first world workers to obtain the lifestyle they desire.