Unions in America are different from over here in how they work I suspect. Unions in the UK are effectively "smurf you, you can't fire me!" cards. Mostly because even if you're in the wrong, if the union sides with you, the bosses are really smurfed.

I remember working for Sainsbury's and as a non-union worker I was getting shat on left right, and center by management. One of the Duty managers effectively made it his mission to fire me because he didn't like that I could do a full day's work like everyone else but still find time to talk during my day. I was hauled in to yet another disciplinary for no real valid reason and had spoken to a union rep before hand. They had me sign my union papers about an hour before my disciplinary. When I walked in there with my union representative and sat down waited for the meeting to be convened then opened with "We're here for this again? Have I not proven enough times over that I do my job and that there's no problems with my work? I'm starting to feel victimized here" I'd never seen a HR manager backtrack so fast. Suddently this disciplnary turned in to a discussion about how I felt I was being victimized and what the company could do to assist me. I walked out of that meeting with a previously issued formal written warning being struck off my file because it was deemed unjust.

The cons of being in a union are however, the fact that if they declare a strike, you kinda have to go with them because otherwise you're a scab. It can get pretty hateful when they're being like that, especially if you have dependents to look after.

Ultimately however, the main point to make is not whether union is better or not better than working without one. It's a case of will you be happy doing the job you choose? I've learned that job satisfaction leads to job security because you're more motivated to do well.