You do not see a lot of news coverage about positive effects of unionization. But it seems the UFCW and Smithfield's have made nice with positive side effects at the world's largest hog slaughterhouse. On the job injuries, absenteeism and turnover are all down since the collective bargaining agreement was reached.

The AFL-CIO blog claims a new study shows the excise tax on "Cadillac" health plans would affect significantly more non-union workers than union workers. The underlying study released by the University of California, Berkely Center for Labor Research and Education is here.

Somethings surprise you on a level that you wonder. But when surprise combines with simple explanation for surprising result, you wonder how you missed it. The surprise: investment rates of return in defined benefit plans beat defined contribution plans (including 401(k) plans), and have done so over a long period of time.