Labor unions are still necessary!
No, not to guarantee competitive wages and safe working conditions - but to continue to fund the Democratic National Committee. After all, 97% of AFL-CIO political contributions are given to the DNC.
When I was a member of the Communication Workers of America from 1989 thru 1997, there was never any money in the strike fund. All our dues went to fund pizza for local union meetings, AFL-CIO membership, and the rest was donated to political action committees. I tried to argue that by having a huge amount of cash in the strike fund, our threats of a strike would be more meaningful. If there's enough money to pay striking workers for several weeks, then there will be no chance of those workers prematurely returning to their jobs because they're broke.
Anyhow, I always hated the union. I figured if my co-workers were worth $26/hr then I was worth twice as much....but the union wouldn't allow me to negotiate my own contract.
Nowadays, I employ 3 people. And I pay them according to what they're worth to me - which has nothing to do with their 'seniority'. One of them is a staunch liberal, so I pay him slightly less. Out of spite.
just kidding.