“I don’t want to be part of any club that would want me as a member.”

No, they are not the words of a great philosopher or deep-thinker; they were uttered by Groucho Marx, the great comedian and television star.

The words of one famous Marx popped into my mind this week as I witnessed hundreds of people following the mantra of another famous Marx.

As you’d expect from a quasi-militant place like Brighton and Hove the national strike saw plenty of people prepared to pick up a placard, bang a drum or blow an illuminous whistle last used in a 1990s rave.

With schools shut, public offices closed and bin collections disrupted, the city came to a standstill, we were told.

But the truth was the gathering for a rally at The Level was a low percentage of those who were actually "on strike".

Many more, it seemed, used the day off to go shopping, have a cup of coffee or play with their children in the park.

It may have been the forecast of rain, it may have been that some just fancied a lie in.

But, aside from the occasional unrelated jeer from the adjoining skatepark at The Level, there was a distinct lack of buzz about the whole thing.

Even songs about the sticking a pin in the head of Michael Gove failed to create the expectant angry roar.

In fact, I've seen more enthusiasm at a hot yoga class on a Friday afternoon.

Famous Brighton radicals such as Harry Cowley looking down from above must have wondered if someone had slipped some sedatives into the water supply.

It got me thinking - if those on strike can't be bothered to protest against apparent ill-justice, why should I care?

At heart, I've always believed that union membership is important.

Despite not always agreeing with everything its leaders do, I've always thought that it's better being inside the tent than on the outside dealing with the inevitable without a raincoat.

But recently, just like all those who signed up to a gym in January with good intentions, I've started to question why I'm paying to belong to a club I don't actually use.

Aside from a semi-regular newsletter through the post and emails promoting courses which I can never go on as I'm at work, I don't really hear much from those I'm paying to keep in a job.

Then, when I have encountered them, my smartphone has known more about employment law than the person who's supposed to be the expert.

All this for pushing on £15 a month.

I'm not the only one who is starting to question what the purpose of the union movement is.

National figures show that the number of members is on the gradual decline, from some 13.5 million in 1979 to just over 6 million now. Yet without their input then employees across the land would be a lot worse off.

In Brighton and Hove we have some extremely effective trade union representatives.

Yes, they sometimes do go over the top in their comradely rhetoric as they look to protect their members.

And most will privately admit to you that they are occasionally a little bit too hasty to threaten industrial action.

But generally they are extremely knowledgeable and effective operators who have more experience of the city than those they make the real decisions.

Without their input our city would be a lot worse off.

For instance, without the passion, drive and resources of trade union representatives the campaign for a living wage would never have got off the ground.

That is not forgetting the valuable work they can do in protecting those at the bottom of the food chain who cannot protect themselves.

I've known a number of friends who have been driven to mental breakdowns by stress caused in the workplace by bad management.

Without the support of a hard-working union representative then they would have probably been forced away from work forever.

As it is, they have now recovered and back in work – which is good for the employee, employer and the country as a whole.

With examples like this, it's difficult to think of a world without trade unions.

But like the industries they represent, it is time for those running them to think about how they will fit into 21st Century Britain.

Instead of confrontation and class war rhetoric, union representatives need to think strategically and adopt a similar mindset to businesses.

Without good customer care and a solid media presence then the era of Bob Crow et al will disappear as quickly as a batch of "We Hate Thatcher" badges in the north east mining towns.

Plus, these changes would stop people like me going all Groucho.

It may not be the most attractive club to be a member of. And, like the gym, you probably will rarely use it.

But when you finally do, it will probably be good for you and everyone else around you.