[gravitycop]

I don't think it's the fault of the Auto Worker that they learned how to bargain.

Indeed. It is the fault of the United States for legalizing (through exception in the RICO Act) corrupt organization of labor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_union#Criticism

unions are regarded as a form of legalized conspiracy and extortion. American racketeering statutes still include an exemption for union activity.

[captainobvious]

Those same racketeering statutes also do things like say prevent unions from making secondary-strikes, which is why unions in americahave been all but completely neutered for the last 100+ years.