tpter1

Unions have done much to protect the workers who produce the goods that make the wallets of corporate CEOs fat. Without them, many workers would still be working in sweat-shop conditions, in unsafe environments for unsafe amounts of time, for little to no pay.

This is why American products are costly, and cannot compete in the foreign marketplace. Other countries do not have these protecgtions in place for their workers, so their overhead is significantly lower. Add to that a lack of tariffs due to free trade, and you have the current situation, compounded by tariffs on American products in other countries. This is what's causing the trade deficit and the loss of manufacturing jobs here in the US. It is simply too costly to maufacture a product here and sell it elsewhere or compete with companys that do not have to follow environmental regulations, safety regulations or minimum wage requirements or health care.

So, although our workers have safer conditions, better working conditions and we do more to protect the environment and observe human rights than some other countries do, it is coming at a cost for us.

I am on the union's side on this one.