"Unions have made some mistakes, but I wouldn't give two cents for the tender mercies of business toward the workers without them. Unions rose because unchecked capitalists became abusive. This is not a theory. Labor is the equal of capital, but individual laborers are weak compared to the wealth that funds the means of production. Collective bargaining balances the equation."

Nonsense, most of work force has no need of unions, nor did they ever need unions.
Whereas there could be said to be some benefit to unions, equally one could say there is some benefit to monopolies. [Note I'm not a fan of monopolies.]
Look at the "sweat shops" of the world today, they aren't being helped by unions, nor will they. Look at China or Russia. The ideology of Communism/socialism "worships" the idea of unions.

Unions are at best seen as ornaments- they are the power windows rather than something essential to the automobile, such the engine, wheels, etc. What improved living standards was free markets and capitalism. Monopolies and unions are like parasites which may have had some benefits to some degree, maybe.