In my last contract, my union gave back $3500 a year I would normally get. It didn’t matter that my company is making record profits. When I wonder if we really need unions, I look at the way my company treats contracters and managers, who are non-union. Unions are vital. Yes, they can seem a bit greedy at times, but they are doing good work, and protecting the employee from a company that would love to profit from firing you.