Since last year’s Labor Day, US unions have flexed their muscle in a way not seen in decades. They’ve scored some big victories amid some defeats. “It’s been a good year for unions,” said Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations school in Buffalo, New York. “You’ve seen a lot of successes and that will help going forward. I give them a B+. Not an A.” The Teamsters union used the threat of a strike by 340,000 members at UPS to achieve most of its bargaining goals, including significantly improved wages for part-timers who make up most of the Teamster membership at ... (full story)