Unions that "don't compromise"

[Questionable]

My family is mostly center-right conservatives, and I've heard this argument from them on workers' unions. My father specifically is of the belief that unions contributed to the recession because of the very high wages that they demand. He claimed that these demands bleed the companies dry, and that giving into them or going on strike will cause the company to close down, meaning all the workers have lost their jobs because they weren't willing to work together with their employers, and everybody loses.

At first glance, his argument reminded me of fascist class collaboration, but I wasn't informed enough on the issue to offer a rebuttal. What are some Marxist views on this argument? Are there any articles/books I could read that address the issue (Preferably hosted online for free)?

[Prinskaj]

My family is mostly center-right conservatives, and I've heard this argument from them on workers' unions. My father specifically is of the belief that unions contributed to the recession because of the very high wages that they demand. He claimed that these demands bleed the companies dry, and that giving into them or going on strike will cause the company to close down, meaning all the workers have lost their jobs because they weren't willing to work together with their employers, and everybody loses.

At first glance, his argument reminded me of fascist class collaboration, but I wasn't informed enough on the issue to offer a rebuttal. What are some Marxist views on this argument? Are there any articles/books I could read that address the issue (Preferably hosted online for free)?
I am also confronted very often with these accusations of unionization harming the workers. Especially the part about "demanding higher wages and better conditions will wreck business, and then there will be no jobs". To this I usually reply, that if a system has to freeze or diminish wages to stay afloat, when crocks (Bankers, investor, etc.) acquire riches beyond our dreams. Then it is not the unions, but the system that is the root of the problem.

[ArrowLance]

Exactly, if a union can manage to cut out the employer completely that's all the better.