What needs to happen to promote labor progress?

Progress in labor has a very unstable history. Unions were constantly forming and dissolving, legislation was proposed to protect union members one year and discourage them the next. Much of these issues corresponded with the current issues in society. Every worker should be for labor unions unless they've been misinformed. But if this is true, why is there a fight? The only thing that workers can use as weapons is to not work. If companies don't have workers, they don't have profits. So in order for these changes to occur, workers have to be able to survive without work. Meaning they have to be able survive without pay until a change is made. But like during World War I, labor progress was set back because people couldn't afford to go without work. During healthy economic times, the National Labor Union was founded by William Slyvis who protested for change. It's downfall was the Panic of 1873 when people couldn't afford to not be working. In times of crisis, the workers don't have the luxury of protest if it means that they won't be getting the money they require. Only when people can spare their salaries can progress in labor be made.