Understand why he left .. figured you as a lost cause. Thing is, I retired to Chiang Mai 13 years ago so, my experience is dated. Also, American, so I can only address my experience there but, I have a few moments right now to reflect so … I was raised blue collar, union. Dad was a union welder for the Texaco Oil refinery in S. Jersey. My DNA is heavy working class with only old historical ties to the upper crust. I do recall a strike, Dad was not pleased but he abided by the union strike. In partial result, my Brother and I grew up in my parents mortgaged home, with car, paid holiday and vacations living a Baby Boomer secure upbringing. My children should be so lucky now that they are grown and independent. I was a career educator, fought for better working conditions/pay in public education in Kentucky (no union membership is not forbidden Ather they “whoodoo” workers declaring they live in a “right to work” state (feel free to guess - Republican state). Teaching undergrad history courses the last 27 years of my working life, I listened to administrators declaring there was no such thing as “academic freedom” and that tenure should end. I will not take off on why these things need protecting but a result led to helping form a union to hold back those attacking. As a result, I was elected to a university level committee and later was elected to the Board of Regents as I was known to defend the academic faculty best interests. When it came time to be elected to a 2nd three year term, I declined the honor … my head was tired of running into brick walls as the other Regents were from industry with the accepted mindset of controlling their “employees”. Ha! You understand that we were evaluated annually, even with tenure and that salaries reflected the evaluations … and so, my Social Security is lower than the US average and I cannot afford my sustainable working middle class retirement in the US. Compensation … end run, I am very happy retired, along with millions of other Americans in a lower cost country. Yes! I am pro union!