I worked for the steel workers union for 9 months many years ago. I had two experiences , both related to job rates, which shaped my opinion on unions.
1. We were slow so I got shifted around to several departments. I ended up in the paint booth spraying latches for boilers. I went in and worked a normal shift. This was my first day ever doing the job, and icertainly wasn't proficient. I came in the next day and the guy on first shift all but threatened to kick my ass because I doubled the rate. He said never do that again, you'll ruin it for everyone. Mind you I barely knew how to do the job.
2. Same place. I was hammering plastic grommets into rail bases and the rate was ridiculously low. I worked second shift 3-11, and made rate by 6 PM. After the first incident I learned the system and spent the next 5 hours in the cafeteria or walking around shooting the ***** with other people. It was a joke.
I turned down a job a few years back because I'm a hands on guy, and they basically told me to cant touch things because this is a union shop and they're afraid to may try and take their job. How the hell is one supposed to figure things out?
This is just one experience, and I hope it's not representative of all unions, but this one was s joke.