NPR: 50 Years Of Shrinking Union Membership, In One Map

[Omaha Steve]

X post in Labor & Socialist-Progressive

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/02/23/385843576/50-years-of-shrinking-union-membership-in-one-map

FEBRUARY 23, 201511:04 AM ET

Fifty years ago, nearly a third of U.S. workers belonged to a union. Today, it's one in 10. But the decline has not been the same for every state. Here is a map showing how union membership has changed across the country.

A few notes on the map:

In 1964, the Midwest was full of manufacturing jobs and had the highest concentration of union workers in America. That has changed dramatically — both because the share of jobs in manufacturing has fallen, and because fewer of the manufacturing jobs that remain are held by union workers.

New York has the highest share of union workers in the country. The main story here is the public sector: 71 percent of government workers in New York state belong to unions. Nationwide, 36 percent of government employees are in unions, compared to just 7 percent of workers in the private sector.

FULL story and map at link.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

1. Mission accomplished, 1%!

[AZ Progressive]

2. Notice that even before Reagan, union membership was on a significant decline

Union membership, by state:

California: 1964: 30.5%, 1980: 24.4%, 1988: 18.8%
Ohio: 1964: 37.6%, 1980: 29.1%, 1988: 22.5%
Michigan: 1964: 44.8%, 1980: 34.9%, 1988: 26.9%
Wisconsin: 1964: 34%, 1980: 26.5%, 1988: 22.2%
Washington state: 1964: 44.5%, 1980: 32.9%, 1988: 24.6%

Reagan played a role but doesn't seem to be the only factor in the decline of unions.