A group of workers who weren't making money decided to get together to increase the ask of the owner of the business. That's a big red flag that says "we aren't united in fixing what's wrong here". At that point, the situation is impossible. There's little to no chance of a path to profitability. This isn't some 100 year old car making giant who can be abused for decades and still remain standing, its a money losing small media outlet fighting for survival and relevance.

That same group of workers can start another similar business under their control tomorrow. I bet they won't. They want "someone else" to fix their problems. One of their problems appears to be math.

There were real problems unions solved in this country. True "we own the store, we own your house, we've blocked the exits, your boss has a gun pointed at you" abuses. This is so comically far from that. The only joke left in the story is the outrage of the article's author for not seeing the obvious, inevitable conclusion that he and his peers forced.

I'd like my 20 minutes back from having to have read and responded to this junk. There are serious liberal viewpoints put forth on HN but Mr Hamilton Nolan, yours sir, isn't one of them.