# America works LESS when you say "Union Yes"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-works-less-when-you-say-union-yes/214229>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [November 20, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-works-less-when-you-say-union-yes/214229 "2003-11-20T01:29:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-works-less-when-you-say-union-yes/214229/61 "2003-11-22T00:31:03Z")

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WAIT…

no mattock handles?

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-works-less-when-you-say-union-yes/214229/62 "2003-11-22T02:07:36Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by county \*  
> \*\*Well, I already said where that phrase comes from and it is pretty obvious (although you keep restating it) what the purpose of the language is (within the context of the law) but you continue to drone on and on…so in the interest of brevity “Bite me” \*\*

You continue to conflate a narrow point of antitrust law with a generalized economic observation. I agree that this is obvious, but somehow it’s eluded you.

And since you apparently do not understand that the antitrust exemption was required _precisely because_ unions engage in the practice of price fixing, yes, I think you need to learn some history.

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**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-works-less-when-you-say-union-yes/214229/63 "2003-11-23T02:34:56Z")

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**DCU** , don’t waste your time. County knows what he knows and is not interested in stretching his tiny perspective on the issue of labor in this country, even if it means gaining some knowledge in the process. Give it up before he brings out his typical ammunition of suggesting you be poleaxed.

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**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-works-less-when-you-say-union-yes/214229/64 "2003-11-23T03:34:24Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TeaElle \*  
> \*\ ***DCU** , don’t waste your time. County knows what he knows and is not interested in stretching his tiny perspective on the issue of labor in this country, even if it means gaining some knowledge in the process. Give it up before he brings out his typical ammunition of suggesting you be poleaxed. \*\*

I never suggested anybody be poleaxed. That’s the trouble with some people on the board, they attribute things to you that you never said, make assumptions without a basis in fact etc.

(Maybe one time I might have mentioned an axe handle)

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**Author:** ![BlackNGold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BlackNGold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackNGold)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-works-less-when-you-say-union-yes/214229/65 "2003-11-23T14:37:21Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by county \*  
> **I will say that without existing unions and the potential for employees to organize; the employer would have little incentive to care for the worker (he’s in the profit business) and we would be starting over again.**

I would agree, with a minor difference. I would say that “caring for the worker” _these days_ is a secondary concern to profit (after all, that’s what you start a company **for** ). But, in my limited experience, happy employees _are_ more profitable than ones that are not. I have yet to see an example of “that guy hates it here but does great work”.

Like most other things, it’s a balancing act. When the pendulum swings too far either way, it’s generally no good for anybody.

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