johnw; evidently I hit a nerve. You said it yourself, it is paid with money you contributed, and whatever your employer has contributed, if they match or contribute to your pension. Last time I checked, unions don't contribute any $ to your future. They merely negotiate the contracts that allow you to make the money to contribute.
From the sound of your response, you must hate the company you work for, in which case maybe you should look for something that works for you. I don't mean that flippantly, but, man, who the hell pays your wages? Not the union.
There really is more than one side to it, whether you want to believe it or not.