HOW
That is the main issue....the HOW the unions became so predominant in shaping legislation. And HOW now that legislation has been leading states to economic ruin. It's one thing to lobby for perks, most every "group" has their lobbiests, to get their little piece of the pie. But these Unions & their leadership, using Plane's dues, regardless of his support or not, literally bankroll politicians.
Specifically here in CA, Governor Brown prior to this tenure, opened the floodgates with his passing collective bargaining for all public employees, his 1st go around. Seemed so innocent at the time. Governor Davis, when faced with his recall, was lathered with campaign contributions from the unions, and before he was voted out with the recall, signed the most incredible pension plans and perks, supposedly to be paid for by current investments, but with his signing, those pensions had the legal protection of the tax payers. And when the investments went south, we the tax payers, are now saddled with finances this state can not bear. A recent article indicated thousands of retired public employees are receiving lifetime 6digit pensions, free healthcare, not to mention they can still work and make money doing other things. Apparently Wisconsin and other states are under a similar unsustaining obligation
The point being that, under the cloak of misdirection & misinformation by union leadership, not to mention the millions/billions placed into politician's coffers, Public employees now have a combination of salary, benefits and pensions that far surpass that of a similar private sector employee.
Again, NOTHING WRONG WITH TRYING TO GET THE BEST DEAL ONE CAN GET, so don't trying pulling that garbage. The issue is HOW the unions came about with these deals, and the repercussions placed on the state and the tax payer, as a result