An increase in the number of union members can make disregarding the interests of labor more difficult for Democrats in general. But for this to be true Democratic elected officials and union leaders will need to learn better ways of communicating with union members and of addressing their concerns so the Republicans cannot siphon them off on bogus "social wedge issues."
Unionisation worked well when relationships between workers and owners were very concentrated. Now that they're not - at least not in most Western economies - something more diffuse and inclusive could be more effective.
As long as worker pressure is split along occupational lines, it's far too easy to play divide and conquer.
