The State of U.S. Labor and Building Union Power
by Elaine Bernard
November 18, 2008

It is sobering to note that U.S. unions have been in decline for the entire work life of the vast majority of today's workers. It was long ago, in 1955, when unions reached their highest density (that is, the proportion of the total workforce which are union members). Back then, one out of every three workers was a union member.  Leaders of the autoworkers, steelworkers and other industrial unions were nationally recognized spokespersons for the majority of working people. At this level of representation, unions set the standard for wages and working conditions not only for their members but also for the non-union sector as well. ...read more