There's truths and not so truths in what you say, csx. Granted the Railroad Unions did well for the average RR worker, especially in the retirement funding . . Probably one of the best retirement programs for the "working people' that remains . . But according to my wife, who's a manager of a Doctor's Office, (with all due respect) your medical sucks . . Can't have everything I guess . .
The down side of the RR Union was it's reluctance to keep up with technology. How long was a "Conductor, a Fireman and a Switch Man" maintained in trains that had no need for them? Granted, it kept people in jobs, but at what cost to the company? One has to remember that the greatest economic flexibility a business has is it's labor costs.
But . . The Teamsters, the Plumbers, and pretty much all of the AFL/CIO had similarly funded retirement programs up to the early 60's then they went broke, suddenly, and had to fall back on the Federal government . . Why? Because the stupid Bastards invested in Las Vegas and lost it all . . Add to that, the shrinking need for a lot of the labor that paid into the funds . .
A good example is a local steel mill. In 1965, it was the largest steel plant West of the Mississippi, Pure Union. It employed over 6000 workers, 24/7 . . Today, it no longer produces basic, but recycles scrap, and produces more product than it did in 1965, with about 1500 people . . The Local Steel Workers Union is nothing more than a shell of it's old self and does little or nothing for it's members, all of whom will have to depend upon the Federal Government for any retirement benefits when they're due . .
The unions are broke, because they not only lost their retirement funds but in the last 45 years, they have spent billions supporting the politicians who continue to keep them in business . . An example; If it weren't for the NRLB, Boeing's Machinists would be looking for jobs and 787X's would be being built in Tennesee or Kentucky . .