Private unions are fine. Government unions are problematic because the interests of taxpayers and the government officials that negotiate with the unions are no

Private unions are fine. Government unions are problematic because the interests of taxpayers and the government officials that negotiate with the unions are not in alignment. Government office holders benefit greatly if they take care of the government unions in terms of campaign donations, endorsements, rallies, and so on. Taxpayers not so much. Why else do government union employees get outsized retirement benefits that have caused disabling debts to local governments? That is what happens when the taxpayers' negotiator personally benefits from keeping the government unions happy happy.