Are the corporate execs greedy? You bet. Are the union bosses self serving? Of course. Unions are necessary, though. How much you gain - or lose - as a union member depends on the skills of your bargaining committee and the willingness of the members to forsake their pay and walk the line. I've been a union member for over 30 years. The union has negotiated some very good benefits for me. It has also protected the lunkheads that can't muster the energy to get out of their own way. That's life. When my employer reduces 10,000 plus jobs, I'll still be at my desk working. My union negotiated a no lay-off clause for the duration of my contract. The eighteen days I spent on strike seem much more palatable than the possibility of unemployment. Union members have a responsibility to be informed and active in order to keep their union honest. Good luck to you.