I was part of a union and was even on the union board that did the bargaining. Bargaining was incredibly stressful and a really terrible experience. Each time it made me want to quit my job. You learn just how little the company actually cares about you. Then you can't help but let the other members of the union know, and morale plummets overall. This happens every year...

I'm lucky at my current job that my employer does care for the employees. We are paid well, have amazing benefits, they are open about earnings and such. I much prefer this scenario rather than a union, but I can totally get why some companies need a union -- companies that treat their employees terribly. I just feel bad that it has to be a thing at all :(