[Neanderthal]

"Once, long ago, unions might have a had a legitimate purpose, but no longer."

There was never a legitimate purpose.

[Semi Civil Servant]

"Once, long ago, unions might have a had a legitimate purpose, but no longer."

--- txnativegop

There was never a legitimate purpose.

--- Neanderthal

These kids might have disagreed:

[Almondjoy]

Oh sure.. child labor.. factories that could be compared with death camps.

Sure the power of the unions were never needed.

And George Washington was a puppet of France.

[SALChamps03]

There was never a legitimate purpose.

I am not sure I would go that far. Do some research on how employees were treated before unions. It is unfortunate that unions have in many cases become as corrupt as employers ever were.

[Drago]

How about coal mines?
http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/earlyday.htm

[PJ-Comix]

There was never a legitimate purpose.

Um...Actually there was a legit purpose. Maybe you are hung up on the name "unio." But if you substitute "guild" or just "association" such organizations of employees often did help their members. For example, my girlfriend is thinking about forming an association of X-Ray technicians to provide a more centralized method for such technicians to find employment when openings become available.