When all is said and done, I wonder if organized labor could be the ultimate beneficiary of IBM’s recent decision to settle the overtime lawsuit. In the settlement, 8 thousand workers were reclassified as non-exempt and made eligible for overtime but were immediately given a 15% pay cut so that expenses wouldn’t change. This certainly falls under the category of “be careful what you ask for.” With a possible economic slowdown looming and the potential for reduced career mobility, will more workers seek representation in retaliation?