Paul Chesser’s article today reminds us that even in a right-to work state, labor unions can have a lot of influence — influence that can work against the welfare of the workers they supposedly champion.

The union sales pitch is hard for many to resist. They promise better pay and working conditions, but in highly competitive industries, there is little if any room for firms to increase labor compensation without undercutting their market position. My guess is that union bosses know that, but still want to sell their snake oil to workers because once the union is in, that means a guaranteed stream of additional dues money for the union brass to play with. Also, after a union has been certified, it becomes the exclusive representative of all the workers indefinitely. No one can decide to drop out and represent himself.

Unions are in decline (in the private sector, anyway), but they retain a lot of power due to the legal privileges conferred on them by federal labor law. If they had to sell their services in the market like other businesses, they’d dry up fast. In the meantime, they hold on to money and power by hoodwinking unsophisticated workers and demonizing companies.