Did the union interview me? Did they hire me? Did they pay for my ratings?  

They negiotiated your salary, seniority benefits, work rules and schedule and will represent you to contest discipline and termination issues, much much more.

It's  you against the corporation who have people reading the rules and conditions, a deep management structure and labor, other attorneys on staff. And they may be willing to succumb to influence to your detriment.

When my last two employers' pilots organized, salary and benefits increased on a schedule to all but a very few pilots' significant advantage. Those who had better salaries continued to collect at the agreed rate until everybody else caught up. All the other operators in the markets had to be competive so they adjust compensation to match. You're welcome.

Any company that gets a union deserves a union- they worked very hard to motivate whatever percentages of the pilots to vote for representation.

The individuals that management sets out to get rid of will go, but the union will fight for them.

Those that weren't union supporters will be among the first to call the steward, the union, for help.

Been there, did that 90% of the pilots who gain representation see immediate benefits. All the pilots in that market will see benefit.

They're only as strong as long as the membership supports them. Unions aren't perfect, they'prone to all the weaknesses of corporations- if you (members) let them.