Marlowe,
There is only one possible thing to do in the kind of circumstances you describe, and that is put yourself up for election as a shop steward. You care, so you should be good at it.
In my experience, commonly just about nobody wants to be the shop steward so the job ends up being done by someone who doesn't really want to do it but who takes it on because there is no one else willing to do it. These people lack commitment and are usually only too ready to stand aside and let you in.
If you have a cr*p district officer, then that's a different matter.
Best wishes,
BroomstickPilot