The share of workers represented by unions has dropped by more than half since 1979—from 27 percent to just under 12 percent in 2018.
The decline of unions is not because people don’t want to be in unions. They do: The share of people who either have union coverage or report they want it is 60%—the same as it was 40 years ago. But employers’ aggressive efforts to dismantle unions and impede organizing efforts have robbed workers of this opportunity. In an essay published over the Labor Day weekend, Heidi Shierholz, Senior Economist and Director of Policy at the Economic Policy Institute says that we need fundamental reform of labor law to restore and protect workers’ rights to come together and have a voice in their workplace. Read Heidi’s essay at epi.org On today’s labor calendar… Locked-out Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians picket outside the BSO this morning starting at 9:30am; And at 5pm tonight tune in for this month’s Labor Live@5, featuring Pam Parker, performing with Michael Raitzyk, right here on WPFW 89.3FM. As always, for the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1991, twenty-five workers died, unable to escape a fire at the Imperial Poultry processing plant in Hamlet, North Carolina. Managers had locked fire doors to prevent the theft of chicken nuggets. Today’s labor quote is by Lightnin' Hopkins from the Cotton Field Blues. On this date in 1891, African-American cotton pickers organized and struck in Lee County, Texas against miserably low wages and other injustices. Over the course of September a white mob put down the strike, killing 15 strikers in the process. (audio) Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus.Enjoy peace of mind on the road with the Union Plus Motor Club membership.Benefits include 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, emergency towing, flat tire changes and more. Visit unionplus.org/motorclub.
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