Report on Unions across the US in 2011

The following is a brief email from President Rich Trumka of the AFL-CIO regarding unions in 2011. It was a tough year for union members, especially in the mid-west as they fought, and are still fighting, attempts to end collective bargaining and impose terrifying Right-to-Work (for less) legislation.

We will keep a positive outlook for 2012 and the following years: "Although it is true that only 20% of American workers are in unions, that 20% sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts." Molly Ivins

Statement by Rich Trumka:

Working men and women want to come together to improve their lives:  That’s the message from today’s report on 2011 union membership. Despite an unprecedented volley of partisan political attacks on workers’ rights and the continuing insecurity of our economic crisis, union membership increased slightly last year.

It is telling that as our country begins to recover the jobs lost during the Great Recession, good union jobs are beginning to come back.

The ability to come together for a voice on the job gives working people the power to solve workplace problems, to innovate on the job, and to improve their working conditions. Collective bargaining brings democracy inside the workplace door and fosters a fair, strong middle class economy.  That’s why the labor movement is working with the next generation of workers, as well as emerging industries, to ensure that each person has a voice in the workplace and an economy that restores balance.

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By the Numbers:

• In 2011, 14.8 million people were in unions.
• Overall union membership increased by 49,000, including 15,000 new 16- to 24-year-old members. An increase of 110,000 in the private sector was partially offset by a decline of 61,000 in the public sector.
• Public sector density increased from 36.2% in 2010 to 37.0% in 2011.
• Private sector density remained at 6.9%.
• The largest increases in union membership were in:

Ø  Construction

Ø  Health care services

Ø  Retail trade

Ø  Primary metals and fabricated metal products

Ø  Hospitals

Ø  Transportation and warehousing

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics and Center for Economic and Policy Research.