You're talking about merit raises. And who decides if you merit a raise? I've worked a few companies in my lifetime and those who don't value their employees don't give merit raises.  Very few companies understand that if they lost all the low paid cogs in their corporate machine, they would collapse. Just as people constantly whine about plea bargains don't understand that if plea bargains weren't made, the justice system would be unable to handle the sheer number of court appearance and trials. People would be set free because they weren't tried in a timely matter. Not to mention the fact that a lot of plea bargains and dropped charges come about because somebody jumped the gun and the evidence necessary to sustain a charge just isn't there.   Why do you think Unions who strike have power? Because their work is absolutely necessary for the owners to make money. And that's why big money have campaigned against unions. It's sure as hell not because not being unionized helps workers.