Unions gained more members in 2008: Labor Dept

[Omaha Steve]

Source: reuters

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Union membership in the United States rose in 2008 for the second straight year, accelerating a turnaround begun in 2007 that followed decades of decline, the government reported on Wednesday.

Union members accounted for 12.4 percent of employed wage and salary workers in 2008, up from 12.1 percent in 2007, said the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That increase meant the number of workers belonging to a union rose by 428,000 to 16.1 million, said the annual report.

There was a slight upturn in the union membership rate in 2007, to 12.1 percent from the 2006 level of 12.0 percent.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE50R6ER20090128

[sasquatch]

1. Thank God

[whistle]

2. Great news

[ellie]

3. YAY!

Although I originally read this as "Unicorns gained more members in 2008."

[lonestarnot]

4. Best news I've had all day!

:woohoo:

[strategery blunder]

5. Woohoo

If unions were able to organize in the waning Boooooooosh years, I look forward to what they can do when EFCA passes :bounce:

[luckyleftyme2]

6. AS A RETIRED UNION MEMBER

ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK GOD, WE NEED SOMEONE TO STAND UP TO THE BLOOD SUCKERS WHO HAVE GIVEN ALL OUR PENSIONS AWAY.!

[luckyleftyme2]

7. AS A RETIRED UNION WORKER

THANK GOD WE NEED SOMEONE TO STAND UP TO THESE BLOOD SUCKERS WHO HAVE TAKEN AND DECIMATED THE PENSION SYSTEM OF SO MANY OF OUR PRESENT DAY WORKERS.
SORRY ABOUT THE BUMP BUT I HAVE A SON WORKING FOR A NATIONAL FOOD CHAIN WHO HAS HAD HIS PENSION BASICALLY EATEN UP IN THE COMPANY BEING BOUGHT AND SOLD SEVERAL TIMES IN HIS 18 YEARS FOR THEM. HE NOW HAS A 401 K WHICH HAS TAKEN SEVERAL HITS OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. AS YOU ALL KNOW IF YOUR OVER 50 YOU STAND A CHANCE OF NEVER GAINING BACK THE LOSS.
WHO IS GOING TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE IF THEIR 401K'S TANK WHEN THEY REACH RETIREMENT AGE? SURELY NOT THE COMPANIES THEY WORKED THEIR HEART OUT FOR!

[GrantDem]

8. Great news...

This proves that when workers can join unions they do. Time to pass the EFCA.

[dcsmart]

9. and if the EFCA passes there will be a lot more K & R n/t

[acmavm]

10. A great big step in the right direction!