Some trade unions give good training and set sr standards of workmanship. Others (teachers, janitors) take money. The other side is many employers are crooked cheapskates too. I was once denied a promotion because of seniority and the man put in didn't have the smarts to learn the math and " feel" for the job.
I have heard there was a union movement in the factory when Knorr ran it. It got squelched in a hurry.