[pixl97]

I mean conversely when people working for company towns attempted to strike in the 1800s, the companies just hired groups like the Pinkertons to come kill them. That is something that is very well documented.

The above story about passive theft sounds complicated, but not impossible, but why do that when companies were fine with actively just screwing everyone over at the point of a gun already?

[bryanrasmussen]

exactly one of my points - the whole being sneaky about screwing you over is coming from a position of weakness, so when you're weak you don't risk that stuff, but when you're strong you just demand what you want.

So I would like some corroboration because it just does not sound reasonable that it would happen, or if it did that happen that it wouldn't have real negative consequences for the company.