I just read an article that illustrates why unions are important and without them employees have no protections. (Link via Digg)
The corporation who runs Taco Bell fired a 64 year old woman who had worked there for 30 years. It seems to me that this is a clear case of wrongful termination, but since she does not have a union to stand up for her she is out of luck. Corporations are not going to do what is right on their own. We need more protections for the working class, stronger unions, and better labor relations.