All that harassment is in people's minds. They've seen the early 20th century pictures of union workers with bats in their hands. They know the Jimmy Hoffa story, or at least part of it.
Let's fast forward: I get hired at say, the GMC truck factory in Arlington Texas. After working the line for a couple of weeks, I'm approached by the UAW steward. I tell him I'll read the brochures and get back to him. After a couple of days he comes back and I tell him that I'm not interested in joining at this time. My name is then listed on the scab page of the website under Upholstery Department, unbeknown to me. What happens then?
You can play the part of a union journeyman with major seniority in my department. First, I'm not making near what you do because of your seniority. I am however, making what 'Bob' another new hire that joined the union makes.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get me signed up. Let's add 6 more people to the department. Five are union and one has quit the union. That's 7 Union, and two non. The guy who quit, quit while he was layed-off for 2 years, payed his back dues and quit. He has his reasons. He tells me that the union just rips off the workers. All others are satisfied with being union members.
Get me to join.
Or, we can switch places. It doesn't matter to me. My point still stands. The six union guys (minus you) might go for refreshments after work and talk tough about all of the things that they are going to do to me. But, when they waltz in hung-over in the morning, they will do nothing.