[hirako2000]

unions and strikes are not illegal.

The merits of unions, not always but their goals are, multiple. a/ compensation and working conditions leverage in negotiations b/ structure that can directly address all sort of issues the employer don't care about and isn't obliged to deal with.

That it makes your service experience particularly painful is exactly the goal, bad (or better, no) customers experience hurts the employer, guaranteed.

Disclosure: raised in France.

[ITB]

But it’s also not illegal to get fed up and go above and beyond to automate everyone.

[hirako2000]

Was responding to the sufferings of travelers who disliked the strikes.

Unions are at war using any effective and legal weapons they can find. The same stands for "the capital".