With the internationalization of more and more corporations has come the demand for increased free trade between nations. Thus the duality of the US economy, epitomized by the growing gap between rich and poor, is played out in even greater extremes on the world stage. And of course, the resulting disparities ratchet up pressure to immigrate to the U.S. in search of a better life. With these changes come adjustments to working life that include reduced stability, more frequent job changes and a constant pressure to update skills to remain competitive. Because of the highly decentralized nature of today's corporations the old model of a factory town is gone.
Companies carry out production at dozens of sites, often far removed from each other.
Relocating production in search of cheap labor is easier than in the past because of massive global transportation systems and instantaneous communications. Flexibility is key. Management seeks to move workers to where they are needed when they are needed and to minimize the inefficiency of having full time employees standing idle. The present day labor movement grew out of the industrial revolution and cut its teeth on factory organizing. Despite moving heavily into the service sector as manufacturing declined, labor has largely maintained an industrial structure.