Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TBF

(34,365 posts)
Sun Feb 8, 2015, 04:02 PM Feb 2015

The numbers tell the story -



The Shrinking American Labor Union
FEB. 7, 2015

24.2%: private sector union membership rate, 1973

6.6%: private sector union membership rate, 2014

Source: Barry T. Hirsch and David A. Macpherson

A generation ago labor unions were often a familiar feature of the American workplace, but in private businesses across the country, unions have been shrinking. Today fewer than one in 15 private sector workers belongs to a union, compared with almost one in four back in 1973.

But dwindling union participation in the private sector stands in stark contrast with union membership among public sector workers, which rose sharply in the 1970s and has been relatively steady since 1980 at around 35 percent. Overall union membership has fallen by about a half since 1983, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, driven entirely by the decline in the private sector.

The causes of falling union participation are hard to pinpoint but may be attributed to several factors, including the pressures of global trade, technological change, the shift away from domestic manufacturing and a tougher stance against unions from government and corporate leaders ...

more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/business/the-shrinking-american-labor-union.html?mabReward=R4&action=click&contentCollection=Books®ion=Footer&module=Recommendation&src=recg&pgtype=article
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The numbers tell the story - (Original Post) TBF Feb 2015 OP
It is over, all I work for now is to prevent the taliban from killing my niece or sister NoJusticeNoPeace Feb 2015 #1

NoJusticeNoPeace

(5,018 posts)
1. It is over, all I work for now is to prevent the taliban from killing my niece or sister
Sun Feb 8, 2015, 04:04 PM
Feb 2015

in a back alley abortion

or stopping my black brother from voting

everything else is pretty much lost

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Socialist Progressives»The numbers tell the stor...