[cyberax]

This really helps. There are also other ways unions can be corrupt.

For example, the ILWU union allows its members to give their position to their children as an inheritance. It's literally a mafia ("family").

And of course, any random Joe can't just apply for a job with the ILWU. In rare cases where positions become available, they conduct a lottery.

The end result is that the ILWU-controlled ports are competing with each other for the coveted last place in the global Port Performance Index. Right now, it's held by the LA ports.

[lotsofpulp]

The US also has lots of tribal/ethnic/skin color/religious/socioeconomic delineated groups that are not necessarily aligned with each other, and are OK with other groups being screwed.

One example I especially like to use is how agricultural workers are somehow not deserving of the same minimum wage as others. Even in the progressive states. Surely, it could not have anything to do with the workers mostly being poorer immigrants from a certain region.