The labor unions have had a pernicious influence on the the U.S. economy (just witness GM's current woes). Thankfully, the power of organized labor over American businesses has been on the decline since the early 80's. By all appearances, it just got even weaker as the Teamsters and the SEIU today announced a split with the AFL-CIO. Such dissension and in-fighting threaten to finish an already moribund labor movement.
But I say 'appearances' because the reasons for the split allegedly involve the Teamsters and SEIU's desire to reverse the trends of declining membership and political influence. They wish to pursue a more aggressive approach to extending their reach; and some commentators are predicting that the unions have not yet breathed their last. More businesses from the North have fled to the South (mostly at-will states) in recent years in an attempt to break the choke hold of the major union groups. I would not be surprised if the unions move forcefully to gain a toehold in the Southern and Western states. Here's hoping they fail.
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