Unionism in the United States was quite successful during and after World War II, especially during the "golden years" of American capitalism (1947-73) as workers' wages increased quite dramatically in a number of industries. By concentrating on the existing membership and "bread-and-butter" issues, and not organizing new members, unionism could not deal with the attack on the "social contract" by employers and the government beginning in the United States in the late 1970s. Following the attack on the social contract, there was a significant decline in U.S. workers' wages and conditions in real terms, and there was a corresponding decline in union membership.Schiavone argues that a strong union movement is needed now more than ever. If unions make major changes as outlined in this book, the U.S. labor movement may regain some of its strength. By fighting for workplace (such as higher wages) and non-workplace issues (such as the fight for adequate childcare or against racism), unions that embraced what Schiavone calls social justice unionism have improved society for all.