[scarmig]

Disadvantages from a union perspective:

1) a substantial part of your dues are passed on to support the larger organization

2) some member services are delegated to the larger union, and some larger unions are better at member services than others

3) some larger unions spend a lot of money on political activism instead of member services

4) less independence of action, as larger unions might have different priorities than what ground level members want (e.g. wanting to get a contract settled instead of fighting for more; external organizing over internal organizing)