I’m guessing “this” is the ability to collectively bargain if conditions aren’t good or, in this case, if you don’t have the ability to collectively bargain.
I would expect this to be some justification or benefit present in the article.
They are like the large looking bouncer at the door of a club, who make patrons (businesses) behave themselves. So GP's coworkers are spoiled because the bouncer has been doing a pretty good job and seems unnecessary.