...people, who would purposely embed themselves in these organizations or corporations, do the jobs, suck it up, be a worker there for 20 years or whatever all with the explicit ideologically driven desire to see the place unionized.

One of the most experienced labor organizers used to do this, but on a shorter time scale. He's retired now, but volunteers constantly to help teach people about their labor rights, how to organize, and then helps those who are in the process through all of the steps needed. I love working with him.

I know from personal experience that coworkers will mock you for trying, management will try to fuck you hard, you won't have many workplace friends...

Damn, that's the total opposite of my experience so far (not the management part). I spent a couple years laying seeds of how organizing could benefit us. I'm in a relatively powerful position in relation to how difficult I am to replace, so I've been confident enough to push management hard to make sure I get a raise each year (last year they tried to give me zero!) Sharing my strategies and helping guide my coworkers through how to get similar results went a long way. The few who went to the trouble saw how effective it was and that's part of how I got them on our organizing committee. I've been there a long time and people are used to seeking my advice in our work, so I'm sure that's helped make them more receptive.

I'm sorry to hear you've caught so much flak for it. You're doing important work that will benefit everyone in your workplace, even if they don't see it yet.

Unions aren't inherently political organs, but the organization and the class struggle experienced by active union members lends itself to an easy transition from apolitical actor to full fledged socialist pretty easily.

Yes! Once they see that they actually do have power when they band together, things start falling into place for people. They begin to wonder: if organizing can have this much impact at work, where else can it be applied?