Final answer:
Employers countered unionization by forming Employee Representation Plans and supporting the American Plan, which framed the 'open shop' as a symbol of American values. Legislation such as the Taft-Hartley Act further undermined union power by banning some union practices and allowing for right-to-work laws. The shift in employment patterns and protection laws reduced the demand for unions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A substitute provided by employers in their effort to counteract unionism is e. The formation of Employee Representation Plans. These plans were strategies used by employers to dissuade workers from joining unions, often by offering certain benefits or the illusion of worker input into company decisions without having to deal with independent unions. The American Plan, in which industrialists portrayed the "open shop" movement as synonymous with American freedom, was also a tactic to counteract union influence.
The decline in union membership over the years has been attributed to various factors such as the shift from manufacturing to service industries, globalization, increased foreign competition, and the introduction of workplace protection laws that may reduce the perceived need for unions.
Legislation such as the Taft-Hartley Act was instrumental in curtailing the power of unions by banning closed shops and union shops, as well as secondary boycotts. It also imposed restrictions on union political activities and enabled states to pass "right-to-work" laws, further limiting the influence of unions. The employment of semi-skilled workers and other anti-union efforts by companies also played a role in the decline of union influence.