'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe

"and about the only visible effect was the union got more money to play with."

That, and the union officers had to do an *awful* lot of legwork. NUS membership gives a number of external benefits, and the Sabs went around asking every shop in town if they'd still give a discount with just the union card, rather then NUS. Repeat for each type of benefit