[discostu]

I see no problem with that theory either, that's the basis of free market capitalism, basically one giant game of Hungry Hungry Hippos with a seemingly (and usually) endless supply of marbles. What I have a problem with is the way CBAs are negotiated, the way they specifically cripple both employer and employee, and the way unions have repeatedly and knowingly negotiated for compensation the company couldn't possibly afford. Unions actually COULD be a good thing, if they weren't susceptible to certain foibles in human character. Unfortunately they are very closely tied to some really bad characteristics of human character (the two that screw unions up the most are the need for enemies and the need for victory; those meanthat no matter what the bosses give the union the union will always want more so that they can "vanquish" the "enemy").

[BikerNYC]

...and the way unions have repeatedly and knowingly negotiated for compensation the company couldn't possibly afford.

All management has to do is say no. There are plenty of examples of strikes over wages that haven't succeeded. Moreover, it is difficult to say that companies cannot afford union wages when they are paying out millions upon millions of dollars in stock options and other perks that, one can argue, they can not afford either. Whether or not a company can afford it depends on what the company is doing with the rest of its money.