Sometimes those unions are just there to get your money. Unlike traditional unions that represent construction, truck drivers and skilled trades, we cannon picket line or strike with working conditions. Depending on your state, there may be no collective bargining allowed so the union leaders put up a good show of representing the individuals but have little political power in reality. They can offer legal assistance in the event something happens with you and hold meetings about working situations. I've never been a pro union guy but I understand they do serve a purpose.

I'm a correctional deputy for the local SO. We have an 'association' which represents us in contract negotiations, provides legal assistance for work-related matters, provides our health care. It's better than nothing, but some times it seems as though they are in cahoots with the county government. We don't have to belong to it, but if you choose not to, they take out the same amount as the dues would be out of your check, so there is no financial gain in not belonging. No one has ever done that as far as I know, so I'm not sure who gets the money, probably the county. At one point in the past, we were forced to belong to a CA organization know as PORAC, the Peace Officer Research Association of California, which used to piss me off, because PORAC actively lobbies AGAINST any laws that would improve the status of correctional officers, like giving full time peace officer status, CCW rights, etc. Luckily, that went by the wayside a number of years ago.