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> I understand that in the US unions are often seen as a burden

Some are, some the opposite. Often people discuss unions like something very homogenous. They're like companies - there will be both loan sharks and non-profit activists (and lots in between).

I hope it all turns out well for googlers.

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Unions have also been centers of corruption and organized crime. This is what gave them such a bad name in the 1980s and is why it's so easy to "tie" anyone in construction to the mob, such as one famous person in charge these days.

The insinuation seems to be Trump. Sure, he has had buildings built/remodeled, but I don't see how you can say he is in construction.

Building industry / real estate is a "bit like that" unfortunately.

His company is renovating buildings or building new ones, less frequently now.

There are recordings of one of the mob bosses discussing Trump buildings and their concrete. The likelihood that Trump never spoke to a mob boss is just about 0%, either willfully or accidently. But judging from his behavior the last 4 years, there is a decent chance Trump knew and liked it.

Of course, there is a difference, in that there's a strong financial interest in painting all unions as the loan shark type.

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