Unions do have to overcome that history as well as the "free rider problem", but I don't think that's particularly unique to them versus any other "If you will

Unions do have to overcome that history as well as the "free rider problem", but I don't think that's particularly unique to them versus any other "If you will give me money and power, I will make your life better" proposition. We get advertised travel, lifestyle, nutrition, convenience/utility, and entertainment products all the time. Most of those things over-promise and turn out to underperform their promises (yet not their price tags) and so people who are generally happy with the status quo need some activation energy and convincing to give up money and power now in hopes that this new thing being advertised/promised to them will deliver on its promises. That seems entirely rational to me.