In a powerful illustration of how economic strikes impact real, working families, All in the Family broke new ground (once again) with an extended Story Arc on how one will affect the Bunkers.
Don't expect this to be just a 30-minute strike, the corporate guys seeing the error of their ways and conceding to all demands, though. You might see that on The Mary Tyler Moore Show or even The Brady Bunch — and then maybe two parts tops. But when it's "The Bunkers And Inflation," you know this strike is going to last awhile, and the impact is going to be profound.
Even if Archie, at first, is confident that his union's representatives will be able to quickly resolve their differences with the executives with Pendegrast Tool & Die.
But Pendegrast is facing increased expenditures as well, even though they know that their employees are facing shrinking bank accounts and dealing with higher cost of living. Those two factors come into play ... and by the first 30-minute installment's end, it's clear that both sides are at a stalemate.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Story Arc: Basically, a four-part Strike Episode.
- Strike Episode: When representatives of the union Archie belongs to unsuccessfully negotiate a new contract with Pendegrast Tool & Die, it begets a strike.
