Wrangell Sentinel -

Close to 50 years ago, I was on the union contract negotiating team at the Chicago newspaper where I worked. The negotiating sessions with management were contentious, even nasty at times.

I recall we wanted a new three-year contract, with raises at around 6% to 8% per year. Inflation had averaged better than 8.5% in the three years since our last contract, so we thought our request was reasonable, though we also knew we would have to settle for less.

The negotiations dragged on for so long that by the time the two sides finally settled — somewhere around 3% to 4%, I remember — that we...