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Our business is a family business. My mother-in-law owns it, my wife runs it, and I do whatever scut work is needed. (I also have my own separate business). Our employees are not unionized. Instead, my family pays them as much as we can afford to pay them (far above the minimum wage or the "going rate" for the same work) plus bonuses, advances, emergency loans, etc. And where does the money for the higher wages come from? Out of my family's pockets. We all live modestly so that we can pay our employees as much as possible.

Note; While I agree with A. Pole on many issues, I'm not a big fan of unions as they currently exist. I support something more along the lines of medieval guilds. But bringng back the guilds would require the restructuring of our entire society, which won't happen until the whole unsustainable house of cards comes crashing down of its own accord. Until that happens, the best workers can hope for is to find work at businesses owned by geerous people like our folks and avoid working for slimeball con artists.

Non ligabis os bovis terentis in area fruges tuas ("Do not bind the mouths of the kine that tread the corn") — Deuteronomy 25:4

We agree more than we differ, then, since you know there are human beings on both sides. Too many on this forum act like it's the eeeeevil corporations vs. the poor, innocent, put-upon wage slaves. Such simplistic, linear thinking isn't worthy of conservatives.

My extended family also owned a business when I was growing up in a non-right-to work-state. Like you, everyone lived frugally and reinvested every spare penny into building the business. Unfortunately, union agitators came in and demanded more pay and benefits than the business could support. The family tried to pay the wages for awhile, but eventually they were forced to liquidate the labor-intensive part of the business rather than go under. It was a terrible, terrible time for everyone, for the owners who who had acted in good faith at all times, were scrupulously honest, and paid good wages and benefits, and for the employees, who lost their jobs when the company went out of business. The union thugs merely went away to harass others.

I have little sympathy for unions. They once served a purpose, but no more. Now they're merely vehicles for socialism, for elevating the least common denominator at the expense of excellence. Employers will pay market wages and offer good benefits to skilled employees who contribute to the bottom line.

I'm not a big fan of unions as they currently exist. I support something more along the lines of medieval guilds.

I agree, the guilds would be much better than unions.

But bringing back the guilds would require the restructuring of our entire society

Unfortunately.