The end of a dispute between Rocky Mountaineer and its unionized workers was a bittersweet conclusion to more than 14 months on the picket lines.
While nobody is talking about the deal reached, the brevity of the statement released by the Teamsters spoke volumes.
For the workers, the news had to be less than stellar, but in this bitter dispute, it's unlikely there could have been a much better outcome. A federal loophole allowing the rail company to hire replacement workers rendered the lockout largely a non-event. For the company, it was business as usual.
Unlike situations where large public sector unions are involved, this labour battle also played out away from the public eye.
While reaching an agreement is to be applauded, the way it came about is no cause for celebration. "Union busting" is an ugly phrase, but it's hard not to view this dispute in its light.
Yes, unions have their drawbacks. They can make it harder for businesses to adapt to change. Seniority can stand in the way of rewarding workers for merit. But they are also one of the few forces trying to protect a living wage and reasonable working conditions for a shrinking middle class.
The benefits they win for their members often spill over to the non-union workforce.
The middle class is an essential engine for our entire economy. When the middle class stops buying - because they don't make enough money - everyone suffers.
Unions that stand on the tracks and try to stop that race to the bottom deserve our support.
