SYSK Selects: How Labor Unions Work

# Summary

Josh and Chuck dive deep into the history and mechanics of labor unions in this episode, tracing their roots from medieval trade guilds all the way through pivotal moments like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the violent Haymarket Riot of 1886. They break down what unions actually do—from collective bargaining and negotiating better wages and benefits to protecting workers from unjust firing—while laying out both the legitimate criticisms and the real economic data showing union members earn significantly more and have better healthcare coverage than non-union workers. The episode traces how government legislation like the National Labor Relations Act attempted to balance power between labor and business, and explores how union membership has dramatically declined from its 1945 peak of 35 percent to just 11.8 percent today, with some experts arguing this decline accounts for a third of America's income inequality.