Columbia Scientist (GSRA) Questions the need for a Union

This is the most comprehensive list of questions from a scientist perspective, albeit from the point of view of Columbia Astrophysics.

http://www.astro.columbia.edu/~dave/FAQ#q3

I don't quite understand. So if there is a union, which we are paying for, why should *I* have to get involved in it? I don't get paid, I pay someone else to do it for me! If I wanted to do pro-bono work like this, I would join RSG.