The State of the Labor Movement

1
The State of the Labor Movement

• Trends - Patterns -Reasons
• Outlook - Challenges - Leadership
• Strategies

2
REASONS FOR THE DECLINE IN MEMBERSHIP

• Shift in Structure of Employment
• Public Policy Has Already Addressed Many of the
  Employment Issues
• Employer Human Relation Strategies

3
REASONS FOR THE DECLINE IN MEMBERSHIP

• Public Perception That Unions No Longer Provide
  Meaningful Services
• Conservative Political Environment
• Continued Employer Opposition
• Reduced Organizing Efforts

4
VICTIMS OF THEIR OWN SUCCESS

• The Labor Movement Has Been Successful in
  Bringing into the Middle Class Large Numbers of
  Americans Who are Now Not Very Interested in
  Joining Unions.

5
VICTIMS OF THEIR OWN SUCCESS

• Old Ideas, Organizing Tactics, and Notions of
  Leadership, are Out of Place with Todays Worker
• They are Better Educated, Live More Comfortable
  Lives, They are More Independent, and Less
  Sensitive to Social Issues.

6
UNION RESPONSES TO THE CHALLENGES

• Mergers - (UAW/Machinists/USW)
• New Initiatives
• New Category of Membership
• Labor-Management Cooperation

7
UNION RESPONSES TO THE CHALLANGES

• Change of Leadership in the AFL/CIO - 1995 -
  Sweeney - Trumka - Thompson
• Expanded Executive Council by 18 Members - 10
  Minorities

8
UNION RESPONSES TO THE CHALLENGES

• Intensified Organizing Efforts
• Increased Attention to Politics
• Initiated a Public Relations Campaign

9
WHO SPEAKS FOR THE WORKER?

• Many workers need someone to speak for them in
  dealing with their employer because they
• Lack verbal skills
• Dont understand the legal complexities of
  employment law
• Dont have automatic access to due process
• Lack an articulate core philosophy of life

10
UNION ORGANIZING STRATEGIES

• Aggressively Seek New Members Through
  Person-to-Person Contacts
• Pay Particular Attention to Worksites with Large
  Numbers of Women and Minorities

11
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS

• Is Union Avoidance the Primary Motivation of
  Management When It Provides for Improvements and
  Innovations in Human Resource Activities?
• Or

12
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS

• Does Management Engage in These Activities
  Because They Enhance Productivity and Efficiency?