[vfulco]

My ex-mother-in-law faced this exact problem. Really oppressive working conditions in a department of New York State government. When she was falsely brought up on shoddy work quality, which was really her bosses' inadequacies, the union wanted to have nothing to do with her and give her a minimal level of support. Greatly re-enforced the uselessness of unions. But they sure are happy to take employees money on a regular basis.