Ok. About 15-20 years ago companies started the two tiered wage, and benefit strategy. That was to leave the older workers pretty much where they were, and the new hires would come in with much lower wages, and benefits. This would lower costs, and keep them competitive in a global economy.Unions fought it pretty well for a while, but it was a loosing battle. So about 10 years ago John Deere's UAW contract bought in to keep plants from closing, and help job security. Many members felt perhaps it would help the farming industry by keeping costs more manageable.
After the contract was ratified, Deere actually raised their prices, and bought the area where the John Deere classic is now held.
I asked a local farmer who had just bought a new Deere combine how much they had discounted it.(Ia farmers are a pretty non union bunch) He said "what do you mean discount?" I said well now the new employees are makin half what they used to, and there's no company sponsored retirement, and the healthcare is 80/20. You should have got a bunch off the combine, because they were told it was all their fault the machines were so expensive. But hey, maybe the CEO will let ya play a round of golf with him on that shinny new course.
Unions, whether you like them or not, helped establish a high standard of living in this country. The question is, do we want to keep those standards, or bring them down to the standards in other countries?