Blake’s chocolate factory used to require 53 workers. Now, with automa

QUESTION

Blake’s chocolate factory used to require 53 workers. Now, with automatic separators, grinders, and mixers, the factory needs only 27 workers. Which reason explaining the declining union movement applies here?

A) competition in the global economy
B) shift from manufacturing to a service economy
C) increased productivity in manufacturing jobs
D) movement of manufacturing jobs to nonunion states
E) companies employing strategies to avoid unionization

ANSWER

Answer: C
Explanation: C) Automation is improving people’s productivity—hence, fewer blue-collar manufacturing workers are needed.