There are many sides to the debate of organized labor, for instance many believe that unions protect workers from unscrupulous corporations and make sure that the workers get a fair deal.
Others will point immediately to the importance of a safe workplace, as proof of the need for unions.
Of course, there are mounds of OSHA laws, EPA regulations and employment rules enforced by the strong arm of the government and by class-action private lawsuits.
Recently, a gentleman from Alabama, who taught Constitutional Law and wants to help the poor with better employment stated:

...
and the regulations they sue over are very much needed because the name of the game is the bottom line, and I as a loyal worker wants my company to prosper, but I want a safe working place and the equipment I need to protect my lungs and my body.
"

Well, Unions always claim it's about safety, always about safety, fairness and such, but their actions speak a completely different language, and it can be quite disgusting at times to watch it.
Even Teacher's Unions work to undermine the system, while they purport that it's about the kids, education and fairness?Consider their lobbying efforts with politicians to persuade regulators to attack "hooked on Phonics" or KIPP, as it might take away from their control.
Maybe the teachers, workers and those who belong to the union think that it's about safety and fairness, and make it like a religion have convinced themselves that what they are doing is noble, but the union leadership is not about that, it's about power and control and Machiavellian Politics, it always has been.
Therefore those who follow give up their integrity to get more, work less and cut off the very hand that feeds them, while all of us are forced to pay more for what we buy, as the union holds up a "patriotic message" telling us to buy American as they bend us over, cause inflation, lower standards of living and slowly steal our quality of life.
I believe union folks know the truth about what's going on, and they go along with it, to get more for themselves no matter the cost to all we are and all we have built.
Unions are not a balance mechanism to management at all, rather they are a speed bump to progress and a tire spike strip to free-enterprise.
I am quite disgusted with their behavior; it's similar to the radical fringe of either party.
It's scary to think that the Unions garner such power, but good to see it has been somewhat reduced over the years.
This is the conservative viewpoint and more so the libertarian viewpoint.
All-in-all America is a pretty darn good place, to live, work and raise a family, wouldn't trade it.
People are dying trying to get in.
Our way works, we should be happy - not attack or destroy ourselves from within.