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Why are unions weak in the USA, but so powerful in France, India etc. even though they are bad for the economy?

1 points by juwo ↗ HN

2 comments

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juwo
Reforms often fail in India and France because unions can shut the country down through paralysing strikes. Why aren't they able to do so in America?

(e.g. Calcutta is a dying city because of this - a Bengali once told me).

corentin
Worker's unions are so powerful in France partly because the five biggest ones were given a special status after the occupation in WWII (because they fought in the resistance).

But they aren't so representative of the workers (and aren't so popular either).