I wasn't aware of this. However, 9/11 and all the (increasing) extreme-weather events show that they are indispensable.
During the last decade or so, I have come to the conclusion that labor/trade unions are indispensable to counter robber-baron capitalism/#TechnoFeudalism. Tge right to self-organize is a key element of any democracy. Even if I were a brnign dictator, I wouldn't know where even to start reforming them. 🤔