text: As they exist today...we don't.  Unions were not meant to be and should not be permanent organizations.\n\nThe truth is that what labor unions were originally is very different from the large corporate unions of today.  When unions got started the scenario went something like this:\n\nA group of workers in a weaving factory are concerned about getting thier hair caught in the machines, which is in fact a distinct possibility.  They have mentioned this danger to thier supervisor, but nothing is done to make the workers safer.  \n\nOne day a twelve year old female worker does get her hair caught in the machines and is nearly scalped before the woman on the loom next to hers can get the machine to stop.  The supervisor orders the workers to keep working and sends for the doctor while the girl bleeds onto the floor.  The doctors do the best they can, but the girl dies.\n\nThe workers beg thier supervisor to see that changes are made, but nothing happens. The workers get together and decide to strike until the factory owner makes the machines safer thus forming a union. The strike causes production to significantly drop and the factory owner decides to fix the machines in order to save his business.  Once the machines are in working order, the women go to work and the union disbands. \n\nToday, unions are permanent, powerful, politically active, big money organizations who often act contrary to workers interests.  This is the problem.