Unions in the past century were strongest when there was a chronic labor shortage. Somewhere around the 1970s the labor shortage ended, and that's also about the time that union power began a serious decline.
Negotiating solo against a large organization with an available labor pool is the weakest possible position, even if the type of talent is in demand. I'd argue that people always want the power in compensation negotiations that's only obtainable by forming strong associations. It's just a matter of whether they can get it or not based on the political power of their counterparties. This type of conflict has been happening since the dawn of civilization.
Negotiating solo against a large organization with an available labor pool is the weakest possible position, even if the type of talent is in demand. I'd argue that people always want the power in compensation negotiations that's only obtainable by forming strong associations. It's just a matter of whether they can get it or not based on the political power of their counterparties. This type of conflict has been happening since the dawn of civilization.