I think one of the things that keeps non-union companies from walking totally roughshod over their workers is the fear of them unionizing. Without the threat of that, it would not be long before people would be overworked, underpaid, mistreated, the company not following safety guidelines, loss of workers vacation time and sick leave etc. There are bad people in unions and there are ineffective unions. But none of that means that we aren't better off with them than without them. Without the threat, the company heads would be ecstatic. For them it would be time to go back to the good old days. The good old days for them that is.

I've seen letters to the editor extolling the company that the writer works for. How well he/she is paid, what good benefits etc. and all without having to pay union dues. Well he owes that to the unions, because without what they did in the past and the fact of their existence today, he/she would not be getting all those wonderful bennies. The unions may be corrupt but they don't hold a candle to what a big business can do when let off the leash.