Labor Relations - Updates on Union Activities: Numbers are up, but not enough for Union organizers

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The number of U.S. workers belonging to unions grew for the first time in five years in 1998, but the percentage of overall workers belonging to unions continued to decline, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In 1998 AFL-CIO unions organized a record 475,000 new workers, with 33 unions growing in size. However average membership in the AFL-CIO was only up 65,000 over the average membership for 1997. Union members' ranks increased by 101,000 in 1998 to 16.2 million - 13.9 % of all wage and salary workers. (BLS statistics)

Commenting on these statistics earlier this year federation President John Sweeney noted that the growing number of unorganized workers presents a serious, urgent challenge for labor, and that "no one said we would double our membership overnight". He noted that the labor movement needs strategies for faster development... not stating what those might be.

Kirk Adams, the federation's organizing director, said employer resistance to organizing is growing, and labor needs to address that issue before it can grow at the pace and scale that it needs.

Union membership has remained relatively steady since 1945, but the workforce has been expanding at a faster rate. Among private industries, the transportation and public utilities sector has the highest union membership rate (25.8 percent). Construction was next (17.8 percent), followed by manufacturing (15.8 percent) and mining (12.2 percent).

Check back with Braun Consulting News to follow up on any new organizing activities or other news relating to unions and union organizing activities.

The Contents of this News Letter are intended for general information
and should not be construed as legal advise or opinion.
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