There are thousands of examples of American companies moving operations abroad—to make televisions in China, refrigerators in Mexico, or shirts and slacks in Bangladesh. Many corporations told unions to swallow concessions or else they would move production overseas. Here’s one example: In 1988, General Electric said it would close an aging factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that made electrical motors and relocate abroad unless the union agreed to a 12 percent pay cut. “There’s a bunch of guys in Thailand, Korea, and Brazil who get up every morning and try to figure out how to eat your lunch and take your market share,” said David C. Genever-Watling, the head of GE’s motor division. The Fort Wayne workers voted by more than two to one to accept an 11 percent pay cut to save their jobs. [...]