I think more so the issue with the union rhetoric is that it’s all or nothing. Yes there are bad unions. But also, collective bargaining can form a safety net, and there isn’t much of an alternative when things go south in an industry.

I agree.

But I'm drawing the parallel between situations where people like a certain work culture that they have never experienced because it conforms to their larger worldview.

It's mostly projection and doesn't meet with reality.

There's a lot that I like about aspects of Japanese work culture but I'm sure that I would find it stifling.