When I saw these comments about the "value" of a union I just had to register to send this post. A union essentially has 2 functions: 1. To make sure workers are under worked AND 2. To make sure workers are over paid. Unions lost their value over a hundred years ago. It is because of unions (and incredibly over paid executives) that companies buy from overseas. I liken the unions to religous cults. Good honest working people pay money into an organization and receive few benefits. Well, at least the union chiefs do alright.