> Leadership in many old-line unions and democratic groups is been in sharp contrast with the wants and needs of constituent representation. The most obvious example of this is the recent teachers strikes which were 'wildcat' in that they occurred without formal union leadership blessing.

There is literally zero evidence that members of AFL-CIO unions oppose the AFL-CIO's persistent lobbying in favor of the Jones Act. There's plenty of evidence to the contrary, namely (1) the fact that it serves their own interests, and (2) the fact that there has been zero opposition to it over the last century that the AFL-CIO has supported it (in contrast to the example you site).