It is the only experience I have to measure by.Assuming that everything you say is true, your experience is not in accord with the overwhelming majority of employees in a similar situation.
People came to me, because my FIL is a labor attorney, with their complaints. What the union guys did is not cool at all. They even went to people's houses attempting to get them to file cards that they wouldn't at work. I assume they think there is less pressure from fellow employees at home, but these people felt intimidated by that action.
I personally didn't have a manager that suggested it, but some of the groups had closed door meetings suggesting that we would be closed if we didn't join the union as we wouldn't be able to take on work from the union shops. (Total rubbish, we have more work than ever before).
The second time, the time I didn't actively fight it, they collected enough cards for a vote, and we won on the vote. Without it, the actual voice of the employees would not have been heard. Those who were intimidated by the union guys would have had their voice taken from them by fear.
Fix the vote, it doesn't fix anything by taking that away.