The main source of poor labor standards is a political system answerable to the fattest wallet. Political campaigns are financed by private contributions, most of which come from corporate PACs or the wealthy, who are inclined to be managers, owners, or bosses themselves. Union PACs also contribute, but only about a third as much as corporate ones. It's no accident that in countries with public financing of campaigns, parties representing working-class interests are common. The Social Democrats currently lead the government in Japan, and the Labour Party is expected to make a strong showing in this year's elections in Britain.
Time is on Their Side.
After you've unionized, you'd better keep saying your prayers, because many newly organized worksites never end up getting a first contract with management. The infant union often dies in a decertification election after employees have been cooked to taste. Toothless Labor Law. The National Labor Relations Board, the judge of unfair labor practice complaints in the US, is a sloth. According to the General Accounting Office, roughly half of all NLRB cases take longer than two years to rule on.