My wife is a Professor in the State University system.
1. The bottom line is that no matter how much one dislikes the union one must pay union dues.
2. She has to participate in the PERS system, which is actually a pretty good system.
3. She does not willingly "lie down with dogs." In fact she does a lot to support the conservative cause. Some of her classes cover public policy as it relates to welfare & children. She uses materials from the CATO Institute to show students the truth of these issues.