Union Membership Falls to 70 Year Low – Factors Including Economics and Federal Legislation Has Nullified Original Purpose of Organized Labor

The ILGWU fought for Workers Safety rights following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire - Image Time.com

According to the the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012 saw Union Membership fall to a 70 year low – or an 11.3% share of the American Workforce.(The Detroit Free Press). There are several factors that are mentioned in the comments section of the article that would point to a decline in union membership, such as a slow economy with loss of jobs, however not mentioned are other factors that have contributed to this decline.

The overzealous approach of unions and contract negotiations have cost unions job – the most recent example would be the Hostess Bakers Union fiasco. The Union pushed a strike at the company, which was experiencing financial difficulties, the company in turn closed its doors, as a direct result of the union demands and subsequent strike. (Huffington Post). The estimated jobs lost when Hostess closed: over 18,000.(KMOV) Hostess is not an isolated incident, but rather a practice of union demands in tough economic times, forcing plant closures and company bankruptcy filings.

The once great Northeast manufacturing hub is all but non-existent – as are the Unions that represented the workforce. One shining example is the now defunct International Ladies Garment Workers Unions, which found its beginnings in 1900 in New York City – and its strength in the wake of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in 1909 (Cornell) (See Dissertation by Dr. Frances Jensen The Triangle Fire and the limits of Progressivism”)(UMASS) This union initially fought for shorter workdays , child labor laws, and safety for workers, however, as time passed and the Federal Government enacted national laws preventing the aforementioned, the Union became obsolete. The ILGWU merged with a Food Association Union, whose sum total membership now stands at a little over 233,000 (uinonfacts.com).

The Private sector unions, have, at this juncture, gone the way of the Model T. There are the public sector unions that have the bulk of the membership. Those left, along with the public sector unions, are now at the brink due to economic factors.

Unions now exist as Lobbyists. Federal Safety and Fair Wage Laws made unions obsolete, they began to exist as a lobbying organization – collecting dues from employees to further political careers, where politicians supported by the unions, would be expected to further the unions interest. One may look at the bankrupt city of SanBernadino,CA (See Reuter’s article here), and the cycle of political payback to unions in the forms of pensions, etc., resulted in the City’s bankruptcy. What happens, therefore, in an economy where half of the nation’s workforce is on some form of government assistance and tax revenues to both Federal, State and city governments dwindles? There will doubtless be more bankruptcies and lost pensions and jobs as a result.

One might suggest that unions purpose to protect the factory worker was indeed noble in purpose, however, factory workers were generally under educated, new immigrants and in need of protection. No laws existed at that time to protect the American worker. One might also suggest that in cases where there workers lives are in danger, such as fire or public safety workers, and meat packing industries, unions may still have a place, however, those who work in safe environments, and are holding a four year or better degree, should, in reality, not be forced to join a union. Union membership should, then be an option, similar to any “Association”. This is evident in the States where “right to work” legislation has passed. It is not that the union is not allowed - it is that employees in these states have the option to join or not join a union. In today’s economy and division of political ideology within any given workforce, if given a choice, those who may want to keep the modest dues, fees, and other charges unions levy on members, to themselves. In addition, some may feel it a priority not to pay union dues, knowing that those dues will be used to support candidates that are contrary to their political ideology. The writing is on the wall, so to speak, for many unions, although still a powerful force in dealing with and supported by the Federal Government (see Grants by Federal Government to Unions in article at NILRR. Org), in the end the economic and political priorities of the individual worker, along with the loss of viability, will see this membership decline further.

Wisconsin, Walker’s Watch: Unemployment Down 7.4% Public Sector Jobs Climb, Union Continues to Fight On as Relevancy Wanes

One of many Wisconsin Union Protesters - Image: SodaHead.com

Wisconsin: Unemployment dropped in February to 7.4%, the lowest since January 2010, under Governor Walker’s administration, while Democrats and Public Employee Unions continue to protest in Madison, WI. The hubbub yesterday (politely put), was over the Republican Legislature, in Committee, separating the language specific to reducing collective bargain for public unions in the budget bill, and then going to the floor for a vote – where it passed. (AP) According to the AP report, there were upwards to 7,000 protestors at the State Capital – 7,000. The 14 Wisconsin Senate Democrats are still “in hiding” in neighboring Illinois, and are calling foul – threatening to return to Madison WI, where they might resume the work they were hired to do. Polling, at this point in time, is with the public employees union, as millions have been poured into the state in the form of television and radio ads by both sides (Union and Republican).

However, would that poll be in favor of the public union if it was understood exactly what the contracts contained? Public Employee unions, with exceptions for those who are employed in dangerous fields (i.e. police and firefighters) are somewhat ridiculous, in an age where the federal government regulates everything in the workforce through a variety of federal laws.
Wisconsin’s law does not affect: steel workers, or unfortunately the UAW, nor any other public sector union, nor does it affect any public unions in any other states (although most of the other 49 are now considering a Walker move - including Massachusetts!)

Although the media is making it appear as though the “Republicans” in the Wisconsin government, from the Governor down through the legislature are attempting to strip unions nationwide of rights, the fact is they are limiting collective bargaining for public employee unions, not stripping all rights, and allowing teachers to choose between joining the union or not. At the moment, public schools teachers are forced to join a union, and opt outs in some states are possible, with a “fee” paid by the prospective teacher, in order to keep out of the union. In addition, once told there is a nominal fee ($500), one is told that if one opts not to join the union, one might feel the pressure of being ostracized by the union teachers. So much for a free country. In Wisconsin, prospective teachers are then free to make the choice, with this legislation.

Rarely, if ever, quoted here, Conservative Pundit, Ann Coulter, has a column this week regarding the Wisconsin brouhaha, which, if ads were run based on Coulter’s column, one would bet the residents of Wisconsin would poll in favor of the Governor, the Republicans in the Senate, and anyone else who would stop the excesses of what is known as a public union. Coulter, when one puts aside the dripping sarcasm (which can be amusing, deepening upon the subject), is impeccably researched: From www.anncoulter.com:

“Because of the insane union contracts in Wisconsin, one Madison bus driver, John E. Nelson, was able to make $159,000 in 2009 -- about $100,000 of which in overtime pay. Jackie Gleason didn't make that much playing bus driver Ralph Kramden on "The Honeymooners." Seven bus drivers took home more than $100,000 that year.

When asked about the outrageous overtime pay for bus drivers -- totaling $1.94 million in 2009 alone -- Transit and Parking Commission Chairman Gary Poulson said: "That's the contract."

It's ludicrous to suggest that these union contracts were fairly bargained. Only one side was at the negotiating table. Ordinary people with jobs were not at the meetings where public sector compensation was discussed”

(read the entire article here).

Meanwhile, the 14 Democrats hiding out in Wisconsin, are vowing (with help from their friends at the SEIU, to have the Republican Senators and the Governor recalled. They are in the process of rushing back, three weeks after they first learned there would be a vote, and refused to return, some Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin suggesting that the Unions have more sway over when they come or go, than those Senators on the proverbial lam.

It is, to be blunt, a cruel joke on the people of Wisconsin, it is further, a cruel joke on those teachers and employees involved in the public unions, that there possibly “preferred Senators” are not in the fray fighting for their “rights” to filch every nickel and dime out of the taxpayers in Wisconsin, especially now, when they have learned there are new public sector employees, able to pay taxes and support the “contracts” that place bus drivers on a pay scale above the local MD’s. (Who, with the costs of regulation, malpractice insurance for self and staff, and overhead, make less per hour than say, the local veterinarian.)

While SEIU members from across the nation have flooded into Wisconsin to protest (no those are not all Wisconsin Teachers in that Capitol building), one has to ask why it is so important for this particular organization to fight tooth, nail and ad campaigns against union restructuring of this nature. One must only follow the money trail; 27 Million Dollars spent on electing one man, Barack Obama, president. FEC via CNSnews. With the option on the table in Wisconsin of members being able to choose between joining or not joining the public employees union, the SEIU must fear that their popularity is not all that – and those who have a choice, will opt out, leaving them short of cash, which is short of influence in the upcoming elections.

There are not unions that protect employees who work in hazardous situations, or who are working in conditions such as those who endured the horrors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, (well worth reading for perspective) at the turn of the century. Although this tragedy produced unions for workers rights, specifically the IGLWU (which is now defunct), it bears repeating that throughout the coming decades legislation was passed, departments formed, and workers rights were given a place in the laws of the United States. This Federal action, reduced the need for unions, other than as a body to ensure those with little to no education would be able to receive benefits and maintain safe working environment. Unions, therefore, are in place for those who are perceived as being unable to fend for themselves, ensuring employees a living wage, and safe working conditions, and benefits that might equal those in the “shops” management.

Teachers, and bus drivers who pull down six figure salaries, (plus overtime), with the help of collective bargaining, simply defies logic.

It remains to be seen how this will all play out, however, if one is fond of placing a bet or two, one might put their wager on the Governors, the Mayors, and those in a position of having to balance a budget, by eliminating excesses granted by public (emphasis – public) employee unions, rather than the union bosses who are in the “trenches” fighting for the “teachers” while pulling down similar salaries for being professional rabble-rousers.