[dspillett]

Unions are relatively controversial everywhere. In the UK and other parts of Europe, for instance, they also divide opinion, either generally or in specific cases where they are accused of over-reach.

In the US I get the impression they are more controversial, perhaps because they are less common (so it is easier for those against to make mountains out of molehills because the public in general are less aware where the truth ends and the spin starts), perhaps because the US is more openly capitalistic (the old “in America many see themselves as temporarily inconvenienced millionaires, not middle-/working-/poor-class”) and unions are seen as a serious blocker in that frame of mind, perhaps because of the history if the word union by opposing political powers, most likely because of a mix of the above and the amount of shouty misinformation anything attracts from the likes of Fox “news” and similarly crap (but in some cases differently biased) outlets generate on every subject.

But they are definitely a controversial topic elsewhere too.

[BurningPenguin]

In Germany it's not as bad as in the US. It's more of a mixed bag. Some people are pro, some are con and some don't care. But there is not that amount of pure hatred against unions. There are some unions that retrieve heavy criticism, because of their behaviour in negotiations or public announcements. But we don't want to get rid of all of them.

[eru]

I guess on average Germany is just not as polarized about unions (and other things) as the US.

If you only ever look online, you would say that American unions mostly have fanatical proponents. (Because people who express opinions online are more likely to be leftist, I guess, and everything about American politics is polarised.)