The powerful metal workers' union has even managed to ram through an agreement requiring equal pay for eastern and western Germans by 1994.

Mind you, at least the union managed to conduct a ballot without ballsing it up this time.

It doesn't seem as if the unions managed to wring much from the government.

Just by threatening an illegal strike, the transit workers' union managed to inflict some pretty hefty economic damage.

The question is: how do their unions manage to get this deal and other public sector unions fail?

Traditionally, the union had paid for and managed school board elections, leaving many members indebted to the union when it came time to negotiate contracts.

Many casinos wanted to break the Culinary, but the union managed to pressure most into signing a good contract.

Somehow, he pointed out, the union has managed to make it a provision of every subsequent contract.

Over succeeding years, the seafarers' unions of several countries managed to secure improved conditions for work in the area.

But the union has not managed to crack any Japanese plants.