Membership Woes

From the SBE Council, union membership is on the decline:

* In 2004, labor union membership fell to 12.5% of all wage and salary workers. That was down from 12.9% in 2003 and compared to 20.1% in 1983, the first year that comparable data was available.

* Private-sector union membership registered 7.9% in 2004. That compared to 8.2% in 2003, and 16.4% in 1983.

* Finally, even public-sector union membership was down compared to 2003 – 36.4% in 2004 vs. 37.2% in 2003. In 1983, that number was 36.7%.

Less numbers equals less clout.