Declining Membership, 62 Year Low For Strikes And No EFCA: Where Does Labor Go From Here?
According to a report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on February 10, 2010, strike activity during 2009 was at its lowest since 1947, 62 years ago. BLS defines a major strike or lock-out as those involving at least 1,000 employees. Fifteen such events occurred in 2008, five in 2009. A total of 72,000 employees were idled by a strike or lock-out in 2008, compared to 13,000 in 2009. Of the five major strikes or lock-outs in 2009, three involved public sector employees. Last month we reviewed that for the first time in history, public sector union membership exceeded private sector union membership, which fell to 7.2% of the workforce, another record low. The reduction in strikes and work stoppages and decline in membership are both due in part to economic conditions – who will go out on strike in a recession? – but also evidence labor’s declining muscle in the workplace. When these dynamics are considered with labor’s apparent missed opportunity with EFCA, it indeed is a bleak time for labor, but it is not the end of labor.
Where will organized labor go from here? Labor will continue to engage in discussions regarding unification of the labor movement. For example, the solidarity agreement between the AFL-CIO and the National Education Association was scheduled to expire on January 1, 2010. However, both organizations extended their agreement and discussions through June 30, 2010. A merger of those organizations would create a labor organization of approximately 12 million members, and that does not include the Change to Win Coalition, which could bring an additional 4 million to 5 million members. Thus, expect to see labor continue to consolidate and unify, so that it speaks with one voice politically and can become more dynamic in its efforts to organize non-union employees.
Expect labor to target its organizing efforts nationally toward those employees who are most vulnerable and have the fewest employment opportunities should they lose their jobs – those in the lower income groups as reviewed in the prior article. Also, expect labor to shift from a “behind the scenes” political emphasis in Washington to more of a “on the streets” or “in your face” behavior toward the private sector. Although labor will pursue legislation and NLRB appointments, we expect labor to return to tactics it used 70 years ago when its private sector membership was over 35% – leading workers in protest and aggressive actions over the economic circumstances in our country.
Article courtesy of Worklaw firm Lehr Middlebrooks and Vreeland (www.lehrmiddlebrooks.com).
