Union Membership Paradox

Paper Summary:

This paper suggests that the causes of the decline in union member are (1) the workforce is now more mobile and (2) workers are now solely concerned with their own individual welfare rather than the general good of all employees. The author points out that unions can no longer show their innate strength and power by threatening strikes and staging them because, today, lawyers are well versed in launching attacks against large firms, such as the cause of retired workers who had been affected by constant and long term exposure to asbestos in an asbestos manufacturing company. The paper suggests that, although union membership has been declining, job-related grievances have not decreased: If unions can handles these employee needs, can union membership be revitalized?

From the Paper:

"The data from C.P.S. has proved to be extremely useful to the U.S. Department of Labor, too, because of the fact that it helps the Department to ascertain the membership in the various unions that exist in the country. This is how it was noticed that there was a significant drop in union membership over the years, and this has labor officials extremely worried. It was only about twenty-five short years ago that each and every worker in the United States of America was proud to be carrying a union card that would proclaim the membership of the individual to a particular union. Today, aside from a teacher or a fire fighter or a police officer, there are not many people who belong to the union and proclaim to others that they do indeed belong to one. However, it is a well-known fact that this decline has been gradual and steady and has been happening over a period of many years. However, there are many people who are not able to accept the present situation and feel that the change was not necessary and is dramatic."

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