I am strongly pro-union but I agree with the thrust of your argument. Unions are essential but not perfect. There needs to be some trimming and adjustment to optimize them..
The problem with the union issue is that it has become politicized. And when that happens, everything becomes dumbed down, simplified and binary. And when that happens, virtually nothing of substance can be accomplished.
Change the scope and approach of unions and you'll save them. Keep the collective bargaining for working wages and the ability to maintain and improve workplace safety. Jettison the long-term pension plans that massively increase costs for business and move to 401Ks; get rid of the ridiculous union protection rules that add to inefficiencies, such as only certain people can do this task, or you need three trucks to accomplish what one truck could.
But no, both sides would have to give in with this approach, and we can't have that. Instead, both "sides" continue to play politics as unions crumble and the middle class vanishes. Either unions remain exactly as they are or they disappear. Absurd.
The decay continues. A pox on both houses. Partisans need to find a new fucking hobby so the rest of us can try to improve things.
.
My son-in-law drives an eighteen-wheeler for UPS. He said the shop steward in his local will not support improper performance or unreasonable conduct by members. As a result they have a good relationship with management and there have been zero grievances filed in recent years. When they have a legitimate complaint he brings it to management and it is quickly and quietly resolved.
Like pretty much everything else, the subject of unions has become politicized, so the partisan ideologues have taken it over and it's therefore doubtful that anything of substance can be accomplished.
The changes I mentioned wouldn't be difficult, but they would require mature conversation and concessions from both "sides". That's why they won't happen.
.