[BlueLancer]

"I think they also supported their unions."

I interpreted them more as "guilds" than unions. And guilds are inherently conservative and guard their parameters, rights, and responsibilities jealously. Think of the old European guilds which brooked little or no intrusion from church or state.

[GeronL]

Guilds were very anti-competitive and raised the barrier to entry for any competitors. Very much akin to FDR’s National Recovery Act