Interestingly, Unions aren't the actual employers.

Instead, each LU "territory" is made up of several large corporations (the electric contractors). Some employ sub-contractors, often. You can even be a worker for "contracted shops" without even being a union member, which opts-out paying "dues" – Francis-Bacon IIRC?

Hating to quote R+M so casually, but "it [all] just sounds like slavery, with extra steps..." as each sub-universe slowly begins to realize Their Realities.