Sorry but which unions are the backbone of the Califroni (or national) Democratic Party? Public employee unions and teachers. Lie down with dogs and you get fleas... 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.
This was not meant as a personal insult to your wife. Nevertheless, the fact that the unions which are the greatest source of financial, and political capital for the Democrats getting hosed to bail out the incompetance of their commisars is choice. Perhaps the rank and file will finally get a clue as to just how destructive a force they have become in driving the state on the road to serfdom.