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A world without unions will only come about when human beings can act truthfully and homestly in their dealings with each other. Remember unions did not start with the advent of business. They grew out of the need for self preservation by the workers who were treated as essentially chattal. When people are treated unfairly in a relationship they will act to redress that perceived imbalance. I know that many feel that if you employ someone, then they should do what is asked of them in return for the wages paid. I agree, but there is a point, whether it is being asked to do something illegal or immoral, or simply too dangerous that it invalidates that concept. I knew people (now deceased) who designed automated press feeding machinery as the auto companies were a great source of on the job amputations. The safety equipment did not get implemented for some time because it was cheaper to hire a new worker and fire the injured worker then to install the equipment. Unions started for all the correct reasons, but like any organization the focus changed from helping it's memebers to continuing the growth and survival of the union. By the 70's an individual in the union was as unimportant to the union hierarchy as they were to a large employer. They were pawns in the game, kind of like individual voters now. Politicians saw large blocks of voters with an organized method for getting them to vote, so they acted as all politicians do, and struck deals with the unions to create relationships that helped them get elected. Pro union legislation was the payoff in the relationship. In some ways it is no different than a politico going to the NRA and promising favorable firearms legislation in return for it's backing. Or doing the same with Chamber of Commerce or any other group.

The thing about the power of unions is, that by and large, they got to where they are because the company management agreed to the contracts, primarily for short term economic reasons. Like anything else it takes two to fight and when management chose not fight on issues then slowly managements ability to act unilateraly is eroded. That being said, I started my business in Texas for a variety of reasons one of which was the "right to work" environment, which allows one to choose who works for and for how long. The thing about that is, you end up treating the employees as well as if they were unionized simply because you value their work and you don't want your competition to steal them. This doesn't work in many business models where the skill set of a worker is minimal and replacements are readily available and the economics of hiring and retaining workers are less of a concern. The government has reduced somewhat the need for unions by enacting health and safety laws and with social security as a "retirement plan" the original emphasis of union activity has been blunted.