“The unions played a part in most of our lost manufacturing jobs.”
Actually the unions only did what unions do, “beat the drum” for unwarranted pay increases. As I see it, it was the Steel Industry’s business “leaders” who capitulated to their demands causing their own demise. In that regard they mirror the domestic auto industry, only they tanked earlier and didn’t get a government bailout.
Union tactics make it hard for business not to capitulate to them. They can be a very violent group.