Union contracts can set minimums, but you can negotiate higher. And in the end, if you suck, nobody will hire you. If you don't suck, you'll make atleast a grea

Union contracts can set minimums, but you can negotiate higher. And in the end, if you suck, nobody will hire you. If you don't suck, you'll make atleast a great wage, if not higher. Not all unions have seniority rules; my union naturally filters out the crap people. You are arguing that you should get more than the other guy, when in reality a decent contract can guarantee you both more than you alone might have earned. And you are a member of a collective - society.