[WoodenChair]

I think people in this thread are confusing "free market idealists" (usually libertarians) with conservatives/Republicans. A free market idealist has no problem with a free labor market that self-organizes into unions as long as the government doesn't mandate unionization. Conservatives and Republicans tend to advocate for big business and have therefore a natural antipathy towards organized labor.

[joncrocks]

I would also presume that in addition a `free market idealist` would also want to ensure that Unions aren't given any special status, and that employers could also come together to agree wages.

[debouncy]

If unions don't aren't somewhat mandatory then workers are trapped in prisoner's dilemma.

[erik_seaberg]

The prisoner's dilemma is modeled with only two sides. A union might be better for average members, but it's strictly worse for non-members and employers and customers. Competition is a solution, not a problem to be avoided.

[sukilot]

Yes. That's an argument against libertarianism, not an argument that libertarianism must include mandatory unions.