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Both corporations and unions are attempts to alter the free market. Corporations (at least large ones) exert their will in the marketplace in order to drive higher profits. Wall-mart does a particularly good job of this -- much more so with suppliers than with labor. Unions do the same by restricting the labor pool to drive higher wages and benefits. I would argue that most professional organizations (AMA for doctors, ABA for lawyers) perform the same function as unions.
There is definately a balancing act. When corporations -- in the pursuit of profit -- create a more efficient market (as Wal-mart has through aggressive use of technology to streamline their supply chain), the perform a public service. When corporation -- in the pursuit of profit -- restrict the free market they perform a disservice.
Likewise, when unions act as a counterbalance to corporate excess, they perform a public service. When they act in their own self-interest they do not.
I have worked in both unions and management. I am more abused by corporations in management roles than I ever was as a laborer. Corporations are just very good at sucking every last drop of energy from their raw materials. It is up to us to put limits on what we give for the wages we get.
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