Tho it should be noted that given the way union / strike law is in the US, isn’t it also the case that workers can close a factory unilaterally? [Like, even if the owners could find other workers, they’re often prevented from being able to use those other workers instead.] And it is also the case that local governments can close a factory unilaterally (as happened recently for health reasons in many places).
So it’s not obvious to me that the owners are uniquely privileged in this regard; for any deal that requires the continued consent of all parties, any of them could back out even though it affects others greatly.
They are allowed to hire temporary replacement workers, and permanent replacements under some circumstances. Unions typically try to bring a lot of social pressure on said replacement workers (“scabs”) to discourage them from agreeing to be such a replacement worker.
Tho it should be noted that given the way union / strike law is in the US, isn’t it also the case that workers can close a factory unilaterally? [Like, even if the owners could find other workers, they’re often prevented from being able to use those other workers instead.] And it is also the case that local governments can close a factory unilaterally (as happened recently for health reasons in many places).
So it’s not obvious to me that the owners are uniquely privileged in this regard; for any deal that requires the continued consent of all parties, any of them could back out even though it affects others greatly.
They are allowed to hire temporary replacement workers, and permanent replacements under some circumstances. Unions typically try to bring a lot of social pressure on said replacement workers (“scabs”) to discourage them from agreeing to be such a replacement worker.