The U.S. We still had strong union grocery stores right up until automation hit. Then you get the big UFCW strike in California in 2003-2004, and what you’re left with is a store full of a bunch of people who are making middle class wages, but all new hires are making $8/hr with no benefits. Get on another 20 years, and that’s basically everybody working at a grocery store now.

Reaganomics absolutely blazed the trail, but self-checkout finished the job.