More peace – more conflict

After a century (1860-1960) of industrial conflict in the United States, the author foresees the possibility of a century of industrial peace, bought at the price of an annual rise in “real” wages of 2.5 per cent. As to “more conflict” to accompany “more peace,” the author points to attacks upon and opposition to management and unions jointly by interest groups: e.g., consumers; environmentalists; those discriminated against in employment; and newly-hired individual employees affected by seniority restrictions and work rules. Various solutions are proposed to ameliorate such opposition.