Its not so much a matter of waking up as it is a matter of being powerless. Here in Michigan we’re a forced union state (for now) and a working life can be destroyed for stirring problems with the union.
I was gung ho for my first union job but that only lasted a couple of months when I recognized that they create laziness and crush creativity in all but the strongest members.
I raised all kinds of hell in my last union job and the union was powerless to stop me because I was elected steward and had a company offer hanging out there. It agitated the hell out of some that I called union dues “Union tax” and openly opposed paycheck deductions.
As regular as robins in spring, UAW organizers would show up trying to organize our production and maintenance employees. Every year our employees voted against the UAW in the heart of union country because we caused them to believe that job security comes ONLY from a profitable employer and that, in the computer business, the selling price of our products continually goes DOWN, not UP as in the automobile business.
Well, that was over 40 years ago. Finally after off-shoring most of our manufacturing, people are finally coming to the realization that increasing productivity, competitiveness and a profitable employer are key elements to finding and holding a job. That's why most of the private sector jobs are located in right-to-work or union free environments.
You had some stones, as a union steward, calling union dues a tax and opposing check-off.