A paradox of American politics is that Republicans take organized labor more seriously than Democrats do. The right sees unions as a mainstay of the left, a crucial source of cash, campaign manpower and votes. …
The economic forces working against unions, especially private sector unions – globalization, the shift of income from labor to capital, foreign imports, automation, the decline of manufacturing jobs – are inexorable. The Republican Party recognizes this vulnerability and is taking steps to go in for the kill. For both Walker and Christie, attacks on public sector unions – confronting teachers is a specialty of both men — are crucial to their potential bids for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. CONT.
Thomas B. Edsall, New York Times