labor unions were a tremendously important catalyst for creating a safer, happier, more productive workplace.
a hundred years ago.
for most of their history they've been bastions of organized crime and political corruption. (not exactly two mutually exclusive things, especially not in chicago!) today too many labor organizations are doing little more than empty posturing, corralling the good little political cannon fodder, and padding union bosses' bank accounts with their members' dues. (irony?) I would say they've outlived their usefulness but I live uncomfortably close to youngstown.
