Since my initial dispute I remained a member and continue to be one despite having been made redundant 4 months ago. I'll cease that once i'm satisfied that my former employer has finally paid what they owe me, but the union won't have lost out on my account.
Perhaps trade union isn't the best way to go. To be honest, I have always been anti-trade union. I started out working for a large engineering firm (part of the IMI empire) and watched the union drive it into the ground. I could tell you some crazy storys. :-(
Are you saying that it was the trade unions that destroyed the British motorbike and car industry and it was nothing to do with the management?