Unionization Reaches Lowest Level Since 1912

Data reported Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that unionization has fallen to its lowest level since 1912. The New York Times (1/24, Greenhouse, Subscription Publication) reports that according to bureau's annual report on union membership, "the total number of union members fell by 400,000 last year even though the nation's overall employment rose by 2.4 million nationwide last year. The percentage of workers in unions fell to 11.3 percent, down from 11.8 percent in 2011." In 1912, unionization "was 11.1 percent, according to a study by two Rutgers economists, Leo Troy and Neil Sheflin." The Times says the figures "point to grave problems for the future of organized labor."

 

Politico (1/24, Robillard) reports that drops in union memberships in Indiana and Wisconsin, "where unions unsuccessfully fought rollbacks in collective bargaining rights, were much larger. Indiana fell from 12.4 percent to 10 percent, and Wisconsin dropped from 14.1 percent to 12 percent. Those were the second- and fourth-largest declines, percentage point-wise, in the country."

 

Van Roekel Pans State Education Cuts.The AP (1/23) also covers this story, noting that "overall membership fell by about 400,000 workers to 14.4 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. ... Teachers unions were among the hardest hit, with the ranks of unionized public school teachers and educators falling by 123,000 last year. Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, accused politicians who cut public education funding of 'inflicting tremendous harm to our nation's 50 million students and risking our children's future.'"

In its coverage, Reuters (1/23, Kelleher, Lambert, Woodall) points to low state revenues, and the resultant cuts to jobs and benefits. The article quotes National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel saying, "It's not a secret that some politicians chose to cut public education funding, balance the budgets on the backs of students and slash the education workforce."