Well I actually do run my own business and have for over 20yrs...there are also competing union businesses.
And, as I stated in a previous post, I've done work for members of various unions and was glad they had the money for my services...I never have and doubt I ever will do any work for anyone willing to replace the union labor for a fraction of the pay, like illegal aliens for example....So for me, and my company, unions work.
As an aside, if you want to see who is more beneficial to the economy, drive through the neighborhoods where union labor lives, then drive through the neighborhoods (if you dare) where the workers who want to work for less lives.