United States 1962

Synopsis

Unionism's existence in the private sector has, for the most part, gone relatively unchallenged by public opinion during its growth in the United States. One of the strongest weapons employees possess is collective bargaining, a process by which an employer and a union representative negotiate for improvements in work conditions and wages. Generally, contemporary Americans support the concept of unionism and collective bargaining. This includes the employee's right to strike.

In the private sector, outside of key industries like transportation, strikes and walkouts rarely cause difficulties to anyone beyond the industry itself. However, the same cannot be said for the public sector. A strike by federal employees can easily cripple a city, state, or even the entire country. The public seldom supports the strikers, no matter how just their cause may be. This resentment stems from the...