Any time blanket statements are made, you will probably be wrong. Unions , as stated, hold an exalted position regarding workers rights. Any fair minded person would have to grant this. Like any other idea/institution, it can be taken too far.

A current example would be the teachers union. I completely disagree with tenure for teachers. I disagree with them not paying social security. I disagree with having to give them a lifetime retirement benefit of 80% of their highest income(in Illinois) along with free health care for life. I disagree with the number of admin positions needed per school.

Why? Because anytime there is a shortfall in the school budget, these things that no one in the private sector gets are the only issues that are off the bargaining table. First thing that will happen is that sports and activities will be ended. The union knows this is the best way to hurt the community and get a referendum passed.

In Ill the trick is to encourage early retirement by jacking up the salaries of staff the last 3 yrs so the lifetime pension will be inflated. All this takes away from the school systems main objective of teaching kids and that is just plain wrong.

So, if your asking for unions to be elevated to some religious status as a litmus test to prove you are progressive. I guess I'm not.