The entire underlying premise of a union is that:

1. In any negotiation the idea of a single individual vs. a giant company like Tesla in this particular example is about as clear as an example of a textbook power disparity as you can imagine. Like you just don’t have any kind of meaningful influence.

2. Employers are by their nature going to act in their own interests.

3. The interests of the employer and the employee are going to be in conflict at least some of the time.

Therefore, by negotiating as a unified voice rather than as an individual you can start to reduce that huge disparity of power in the negotiation and therefore you as the employee are less likely to get screwed over.

That’s the entire value premise there. It’s good, it’s in the interest of both you and your coworkers, more people should do it, especially if you are in the US which has notoriously lacking labor laws / protections compared to many other countries. Don’t let bad examples be the reason to doubt the entire concept of organising.

Single employee is nothing. Union of employees can grind the company to the halt and needs to be negotiated with.

Unions popped up around 19th century in Europe, when unregulated capitalism was the policy of the day with consequences like working 16 hours a day, 6 days a week for meager pay in dangerous environment able to maul you or crush you when you done smallest mistake.

Same like pain is a response to damage of your body, union is response to abusing your employees.

They create presure on the employers to give better wages and etc... Sometimes it can go seriously wrong when the heads of the unions either ask for unrealistic stuff to showoff or just start acting in their own interests.

Ask your police force why a union is beneficial...