<< Actually, wouldn't a "democratic" union would tend to vote
greater benefits to the majority of the membership - such
that if there were many newer members the union would tend to
emphasize causes that would support the younger members - opposite
if the membership were composed of mainly veteran members. >>


Nice theory but you obviously have little or no practical experience with unions.

Long seniority employees are typically elected to union bargaining committees and such, and long seniority employees tend to have more power in setting union priorities.

People can always think of reasons why they should get more money or privileges.


<<When union membership can withdraw from one union to
join an alternate union organization, there tends to be a greater
tendency for union leadership to develop the capacity to
listen to membership.>>


Raiding the membership of one union by another is one of the things unions fear the most. To prevent that, the AFL-CIO adopted policies that prevent an AFL-CIO affiliated union from EVER raiding a bargaining unit organized by another AFL-CIO affiliated union, even if the employees decertified a previous union.


Nice theories, but it doesn't tend to work that way.


Of course, undemocratic unions can have other problems, and frequently do.



Seattle Pioneer