While we're lost in hysteria regarding how awful unions are, lets try to
keep some perspective. First of all, corporations are responsible for
vastly worse offenses than unions could even dream of committing.
Pollution, mass layoffs, hazardous (even deadly) working conditions,
virtual hijacking of the political system, suppression of dissent
(something that unions are also guilty of within their own ranks), I
could go on and on. You guys haven't had negative experiences with
private, non-unionized corporations?
And let's not forget that without unions we wouldn't have the 40-hour
workweek, overtime pay, occupational health & safety laws, Social
Security, etc. Do unions have problems? Sure they do. But if Muni's
unions are so powerful, why don't we have more bus and rail service,
which would require more drivers, which would mean more union members?
Arcane work rules should be addressed, but they are far from the biggest
obstacle to improving Muni service.