Friday I was visiting with the business manager of one of the local construction unions. One of the local contractors approached him about setting up a production shop (production shops are not subject to the construction CBA, and don't require journeymen workers). This company had entered into a venture with a German company that has a patent on a new type of product. The companies were looking for a low-ball deal in which they would not even offer retirement benefits, and lower wages than most of the production shops around.
I mentioned that Germany was more unionized than the US, so the company shouldn't be averse to paying a union scale. It appears, however, that the company is coming over here
looking for cheap wages. It has happened - the powers that be have managed to frighten the working class enough that we are moving toward third world wages.
Regards,
D-Ray