Tony,
All my dealing with the local have been positive also. I met many great musicians and entertainers during my association with the union.

As a keyboard player I had plenty of jobs from the local musicians. If you needed a musician you just looked in the local's directory which was listed by intrument and phone number. Had I not made these contacts my musical career would have ended 50 years ago.

I was paid well. got cartage and mileage for the gigs thanks to local.

I made many lifelong friends that I still keep in contact with.

Some of the naysayers probably never went to a meeting, made contacts and or even knew where the local office was. You're not going to get gigs if people don't know you.

Every business has it's people with underhanded ways, but don't paint every local with the same brush.

My 2 cents

Jerryghr