Nick...to your overall point that unionization of public employees is uncalled for because of a lack of profit I would disagree on the basis that profit is only one factor that may lead to an employer abusing workers. Power, along with the gains from political partisanship and nepotism are other potential motivational factors.
Years ago when I worked for the city pressures to contribute to political campains were inappropriately, and in most cases illegally, encouraged by supervisors and politically connected co-workers. Environments like that and ones where there is a preponderance of employees with family or organizational [the Klan, religious, etc] ties created environments that put good workers in precarious positions that contribute to unstable, unsafe and potentially hazardous working conditions.
Unions were just as relevant to correcting those situations as they were child labor laws etc.
Unsafe conditions exist in many government jobs from 1st responders to sanitation workers and those workers have a right to safe working conditions just like someone in the private sector.
The US Postal service has been fined repeatedly over the last year to the tune of 3+ million dollars for violations deemed very dangerous [improper electrical wiring in work areas]. So while nobody has died yet the infractions have been found in so many locations across the country it is just a matter of time. Recently the Inspector General has issued a report condeming the working conditions around the use of DBCS machines that expose workers to common physycal injuries to their back, joints and shoulders. If not for our unions these situations would be worse.
In the case of many public safety jobs, abuse of employees is also a public safety risk and while whistle blower laws may afford some protection anyone who proceeds without union or legal [at their own cost] advise is foolish to do so.
Any employee... every employee has the right to collective bargaining. Thankfully, most employers treat their employees in a fair manner and unionizing doesn't happen. If anyone is going to say that collective bargaining, or unions are obsolete then I would be interested in how the universe has shifted in the last years because whether the motivation is profit or power workers will always be at a disadvantage against supervisors and organizations whether corporate or poorly run government agencies.
As to Doug's comments: I have worked in union jobs and non-unions jobs both and to tell you the truth I have never met a person who was a thug by virtue of being in the union, generally they would have been a thug in a non-union job or on the streets. To here politicians, etc., constantly refer to food service workers, clerks, teachers and fireman as thugs is repugnant.
I can't address your situation where you work but if you choose to not be in your union then stop complaining. Your union is what you and other workers make it. Its democratic and you have a voice if your a member. It has written rules and you have a voice and a vote if you choose to excercise it. If you choose to not be a member, then you give in to whatever is wrong about it.
A union is just a group of people who pool their resources together to enhance their future or productivity. Strangely enough that's exactly what for-profit corporations are. The difference is that workers are pooling their skills [as opposed to capital] to enhance [stabilize] their future [as opposed to profit], so how can the concept be outdated?
http://www.addictinginfo.com/apps/blog/entries/show/5154456-public-employee-unions-vs-private-sector-unions-
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