Labor unions have priced this country right out of the world economy. They have outlived their usefulness.

Not at all..the labor unions are forcing businesses to cut employment and to outsource..People continue to support labor unions even as they see hundreds of thousands of jobs being cut, while foriegn countries are more than happy to do business..and buy just a little more of this great country we live in..Labor union workers are demanding more and more..while cutting their own throats

YES, I TOO BELIEVE THAT UNIONS HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR USEFULNESS, ON THE OTHERHAND HAD BUSINESS TREATED PEOPLE FAIRLY IN THE PAST UNIONS WOULD NEVER COME INTO USE.

I believe the answer to this question are Yes and Not At Present. Labor unions are good for the economy because they help wages to rise, which spreads wealth more equitably, leading to the development of a Middle Class and the possibility of political and social reform. The reason that unions are counterproductive in our current world is that globalization has created HUGE asymmetry behind the mobility of Capital and the mobility of Labor. As long as international Capital flows are largely unregulated while the nature of nation-states prevent any sort of international steps to regulate labor markets, unions will lack the leverage to improve conditions for their members. . . .

Yes I agree that labour unions are not helpful for the economy. They contribute to inflation by causing a price-wage spiral. Inflation cannot be combatted if labour unions force their employers to increase wages inline with inflation.

I believe unions had their place at one time, but no longer. They have worn out their usefulness. A worker is not necessarily "deserving" of a good wage. Unions have led their followers to believe they are "entitled" to a better wage and a better life. "Entitlement" is not the American way. There are many different kinds of government: autocracy (rule by one), democracy (rule by majority), republic (rule by law),anarchy (rule by no one), oligarchy (rule by minority)....to name a few. We are a "republic", and for anyone that would prefer to live in a country other than a "republic", they should move to a country that suits them. If one has the belief that the world owes them something, or that your employer owes you a good life, try living under another form of government a while. Work hard, get an education, set your goals high and get a job. Without an education and hard work you don't make as much money. That's the way it is in a capitalistic society. I am proud to be an American and proud to live in a "republic".

Of course they are. Wages and earnings for ALL workers are dependent on union scale. If the factory worker makes less, so does the Manager etc. Union busting is the REAL "trickle-down" economics; when union scale goes away, watch your REAL earnings shrink. Unions are THE reason for safety in the work place, and all you need do is look at the mining industry, for an example of the disasters when the Federal gov't relaxes standards. The union cannot enforce standards, only fight for them. The union is the reason for 40 hour work weeks, and overtime. The current push by non-union is to not pay OT. The union is the reason more people are not uninsured. Good benefits are the result of the union and the need for non-union industries to offer competitive benefits. Non-union often get comparable benefits BECAUSE of the union. Be careful what you wish for, if unions go away you are in trouble unless you are UPPER management. If you own your own business, who will buy your product/service if wages go down? Henry Ford knew that to be successful he had to pay enough so the workers could buy the products he made! Finally, do not blame the unions for being a foreign owned nation. That falls squarely on corporations. Corporate GREED, including CEO pay (the CEO of a Standard & Poor's 500 company made on average $14.78 million in total compensation in 2006) are the reasons EVERYTHING is made in China.

Yes. Because they look after the welfare of workers, especially in the issue of wages. If workers have better wages, there's more consumption and savings. That's good for the economy.

in the factor of production , labour is a unique factor not because it is a movable asset ,but that generate production , create employment and recycle its earning in the economy . Hence labour is a longest durable asset from other asset , labour union are the source of capital for the state . State has important role in the maintaining the stability with other factor of production by not compromising labour with other factors. Whereas labor union union has to respond to the economy for the betterment of society . Labour shouldn't be politised so that scrap the importance of union as well degraded the other factor .

They're vital. Anyone who doesn't realize that knows sod all about economics.