The unions were destroyed by high oil prices and the political fallout which included the EPA and anti-coal/anti-nuke demagogues — energy costs went from low and stable to high and unstable — and foreign. Steel production went overseas, where labor costs were low and environmental ‘protection’ nil. Auto needed more expensive vehicles to cover labor costs, and that meant larger cars (Chrysler was the first US company to actually make money on a domestically produced subcompact, the Neon), which got lousy fuel economy — and ultimately the permanent change from 35 cents a gallon to $1 or more (and now, at 42 gal p bbl, $100+ a bbl, and 53 cents a gallon federal excise, $3 is the permanent floor) meant compact and subcompact cars from the Far East took over a large piece of the market (in the late 1950s, Chevy by itself was about 40 percent of the car business in the US).
Today, USA oil prices are close to $90, and “clean” natural gas is being produced in record volume for under $4(mmBtu).
Does this mean the return of industrial unions!
Don’t leave out the folks abroad. They want what others have, more money, better quality of life. They are willing to work long and hard for a better life.