Correct me if I'm wrong. As I understand it, management came to the table and told the union the with the looming cost of The Affordable Care Act they could not remain solvent without reducing wages and benefits.
It's important to note that there were two unions involved in this mess. The Teamsters and the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. The company opened it's books to both and the Teamsters looked over the books and acknowledged that taking cuts were possible and they could work with mgt and figure out a deal. The Bakers Union said no.
So, the reason their current cost model won't work out in the future is immaterial (but your idea certainly sounds plausible). One Union figured it out for their members. The other didn't serve theirs.
