[msbarnett]

Europe went heavily in on trade unions after the war, partially as an antidote to fascism and occasionally with direct US support for strengthening them (as in post-War Germany). Domestically, however, the US significantly weakened unions first by strongly opposing efforts for unions to receive a seat on corporate board of directors (which they had supported in Germany), and via Red Scare union busting tactics.

The long term hostility toward unions essentially won in the ‘80s when Regan broke the air traffic controllers, and the rapid rise in wealth inequality from the ‘80s onwards seems a very direct result.