I’m not an expert but I have spent several years organizing in my field. Legally it only takes 2 workers to form a bargaining unit. It’s normal to see a union as unnecessary when you’re satisfied with your working conditions. Unfortunately without a union there’s nothing protecting those benefits you enjoy, and they’re often the first thing employers target when they’re looking to cut costs. Without a union your employer has no obligation to consult with you before, for example, switching to a cheaper health insurance or freezing bonuses.

A union contract lets you decide which issues you want to weigh in on. Don’t mind working holidays? Leave it out of the contract. Want regular raises? Put it in the contract.

Contrary to popular belief, you won’t pay any dues until you have a contract that you feel is worth what you’re paying. Sometimes people say, “I paid dues but the union never did anything for me.” Nearly every time I’ve heard this the person A. worked in a union that’s been around for a long time, and negotiated major improvements before they started the job, and/or B. did not actively participate by attending meetings or voting on contracts. It’s like saying, “I didn’t vote in my local elections, and the city council never did anything for me.”

Of course there’s incompetence and corruption, just like in government, but I rarely hear people argue that the solution to government corporations is to stop having elections. Unions are literally the only reliable way for workers to improve their working conditions.