why would anyone want to join a trade union in the US after all
Because typically unions negotiate significantly better wages for the employees as well as fringe benefits, ie, health insurance (usually for the worker's entire family) and a pension plan. REMEMBER -- here in the USA we DO NOT have socialized health insurance. This is a BIG fringe benefit to employees.
PS--Something often not considered is that the health insurance premiums that the biz pays are NOT taxable to the employee. If they just received the actual cash and had to purchase their own insurance, the money would be taxes and they'd only receive 60-80% of it.
Compare wages in non-union (Right to Work States) vs union wages for the same trades. HUGE DIFFERENCE.
HOURLY RATE/TRADE (Actual pay scale is approx $25/hr less for cost of fringe benefits)
$55.75 Carpenter
$57.54 Bricklayer
$60,56 Heavy Equipment Operator
$48.50 Painter
$68,44 Plumber
$63,17 Electrician
$47.90 Commercial Laborer