She told me once that she did it to protect us. That if she didn't join the union "bad things" would happen.
Every few years we tightened our belts and had to budget things harsher than usual, because that was when the contract was expiring and a strike was possible.
Mom was a union member but she hated everything about it. I could tell stories about the corruption and ineptitude that she saw there.
Unions perpetuate to protect their misleadership...who are often literally in bed with the mismanagement.
Especially the NEA and AFT.
We used to employ men from at least 4 different unions - oh how I hated the leadership who were just crooks. Heard various stories from our employees about how they threw their weight around. Crooked, dirty bastards who thought they were king - and unfortunately they were.
The union leaders are soulmates with FJB.