U.S. Labor Movement Faces Choice of "Lesser Evils" in Coming Presidential Election

by Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http Saturday, Sep. 08, 2012 at 10:07 AM
mail(AT)btlonline(DOT)org Between the Lines c/o Squeaky Wheel Productions P.O. Box 110176 Trumbull, CT 06611

Interview with Steve Early, union organizer and author, conducted by Scott Harris

U.S. Labor Movement Faces Choice of "Lesser Evils" in Coming Presidential Election

Interview with Steve Early, union organizer and author, conducted by Scott Harris

Over recent decades, the U.S. labor movement has lost millions of members, weakening unions’ ability to negotiate for higher wages and improved benefits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of the workforce belonging to unions was 11.8 percent or 14.8 million workers in 2011. In 1983, the percentage of workers belonging to unions was 20.1 percent with 17.7 million union dues-paying members. Although public sector union membership was in a stronger position, comprising 37 percent of the workforce, public employee unions are facing aggressive attacks from Republican state governors and legislatures, with new laws revoking their right to bargain collectively, and instituting a large number of layoffs.

Story continues

http://www.btlonline.org/2012/seg/120914af-btl-early.html

Original: U.S. Labor Movement Faces Choice of "Lesser Evils" in Coming Presidential Election