This is, obviously, the story of labor unions around the world. If you can be kicked out of your job and replaced at a moments notice by someone who will work for half the amount, or if you can be threatened with loss of your job unless you to take less salary, then any/every company will do just that in order to increase profits. That’s the way companies work: they are inherently responsible to no human being, but rather to a balance sheet. Whatever makes the balance sheet better — including, historically, things like slavery — is generally seen as good business. At least until somebody wades into the filth with a flashlight and makes everybody feel a little queasy about where their riches came from….

The WGA is simply a high-profile (almost exotic) example of my labor unions are important if you don’t want workers to constantly be under threat of exploitation by an employer. On the other hand, if you believe labor — like, say, fossil fuels — is there to be consumed at the cheapest possible price, then of course you are opposed to labor unions. Let them eat cake.