Outlook 2018: Labor Hopes to Capitalize on Hot Economy, Tax Cuts

Health-care inflation continues to create conflict between employers and unions, but the tight labor market is leading to more generous wage scales across industries. And that trend is expected to continue in 2018.

Employer-friendly changes to the tax code will also have unions asking for a share of that bounty at the bargaining table.

“I would anticipate that argument will be made in virtually every negotiation,” said Brian Pedrow, who leads Ballard Spahr’s Labor and Employment Group. But he doesn’t think it’s going to gain much traction with companies.

Unions will be saying “you got this tax break, and we ...