Benefits are new since 1973?
Are we intentionally distorting reality to attempt to make a point?
Healthcare costs have been hidden in benefit packages to a certain extent, but there were a lot more defined pension plans in the 70’s that are long gone.
Personally, I have a lot of extended family members working blue collar jobs & I’ve watched them tread water and lose ground for the last +20 years.
Benefits are nontaxable. As health care costs rose, rational employers offered more non-taxable benefits in lieu of pay increases. Not even considering income taxes, a pay increase meant both you and your employer paid Medicare/SS taxes.
For some strange reason, I remember my employer in 1977 informing us that single health insurance was costing him $40 per month (he paid 100%). Tax the difference at almost 15%.
I offered the way to check the writer's dishonesty. You instead fell back on anecdote. Waste of time.