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Union Membership and Labor Movement

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1. Why has union membership in the United States declined in the blue-collar sector?
2. In the 1960s and 1970s, what were some of the reasons for the growth of unionization in the public sector? Choose at least three and discuss.
3. What is the current status of the labor movement? Make sure to include your viewpoint
4. Why are white-collar workers less likely to join a union? Explain at least five reasons.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations. .( MUST BE APA FORMATTED) APA rules for formatting, quoting, paraphrasing, citing, and listing of sources are to be followed.

Sloane, A. A., & Witney, F. (2010). Labor relations (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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This detailed solution explains why union membership has declined in the U.S. blue collar sector; why union membership has grown in the public sector; the current status of the labor movement; and why white collar workers are less likely to join a union. Includes APA formatted references.

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1. Why has union membership in the United States declined in the blue-collar sector?

Union membership is estimated to be "about one- eighth of the employed....down from about one-third in 1955" (Fischer, 2010). It is felt this is in part due to less blue-collar industrial jobs in the United States, thus less need for union representation. In addition, there has been increased globalization, with more "workers from low wage nations moving into the United States economy" (Fischer, 2010). Unions have not been as successful in organizing these workers due to language barriers and other factors. The more divided workers are by ethnicity they more difficult it is to organize workers. Women, a greater force in the workplace, also traditionally have less interest in union organization than men (Lipet & Katchanovki, 2011). Rules have also changed in regards to unions, with greater regulatory oversight making it harder to unionize. In addition, some states have anti-union laws making it harder to unionize in an effort to be business friendly. In addition, approval of the union has slipped, with Americans more likely to support independence and individualism. Furthermore, unions "free rider" programs allow some employees to benefit from the union's efforts without actually joining the union and paying dues (Fischer, 2010). Changes in manufacturing also create challenges in the traditional model of union membership and organization, and the degree of employer opposition has been a large factor. In general the business and legal environment are less friendly to union members (and organization of members) then previously.

Fischer, C. (2010, 11 Sept). Why has Union Membership Declined? The Economist's View. Retrieved from http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2010/09/why-has-union-membership-declined.html
Lipset, S.M., Katchanovski, I. (2001). Future of Private Sector Unionism in the United States. Retrieved from ...

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