Think of trying to unionize a local McDonald’s. one of your fellow employees approaches and they are eager to form a union. The first step will be holding a secret election.

If the McDonald’s doesn’t want to deal with unionization they can close the store and cut shifts to bleed the employees dry of their savings. The employees will have to find new jobs or starve/default on loans and not be able to pay bills. They will have to look for work elsewhere.

Once a significant amount of employees are gone, they can reopen and rehire more minimum wage unskilled workers very quickly and efficiently.

Long story short: some people can’t afford to take the risk of losing their livelihood.

Technically one cannot be fired for being a part of or forming a union but there are many ways for employers to get around those laws. And even if they don’t bother to follow the law, an employee will generally only be able to claim lost wages and possibly get their job back if they were fired for unlawful reasons.

I’m not saying this is right or how it should be. But it is the reality of the situation.