What your missing is, the big 3 really like the unions in there, the unions now handle all the little and some big issues with the workers now. The company sells the union on issues then the union sells the workers.
Management should not be so lazy...they should be doing the selling....cut out the middleman....
I am NOT totally against the unions...BUT the companies have to assert their control....if the unions want some control then they should share some of the bad times as well....like cut wages, reduced benefits....its fair.