Mr. Monk Joins a Cult - S6-E11
Revealing mistake: When Monk and Natalie are talking to the cult members, a Culver City bus can be seen driving in the background, which is a Los Angeles bus, but the show takes place in San Francisco. Culver City is home to a lot of movie shooting. (00:09:15)
Answer: The two men are trying to work out a secret deal between them without involving the union, which means the workers' interests aren't being represented and defeats the whole purpose of a union. The mayor would lose labor's support and Cusack's union troubles would just be starting.
Captain Defenestrator