Private sector union membership shrinks

Associated Press ^ | 1/22/10 | Sam Hananel

[ruralvoter]

The number of union workers employed by the government for the first time outnumbered union ranks in the private sector last year, the result of massive layoffs that plunged the rate of private sector union membership to a record low.

Local, state and government workers made up 51.5 percent of all union members in 2009, up from 48.7 percent a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Overall, union membership declined by 771,000 workers, to 15.3 million. But with the number of nonunion workers also shrinking, the rate of union membership fell only slightly to 12.3 percent of all workers from 12.4 percent in 2008.

[LZ_Bayonet]

"Local, state and government workers made up 51.5 percent of all union members in 2009, up from 48.7 percent a year ago,"

A 3% increase in the percentage of working voters who will tend to vote Democratic in their own self interest- courtesy of your tax dollars. Pretty soon there will very few people left with the incentive to even consider voting for another political party.

[ansel12]

Another fatal blow from “the Greatest Generation”, letting the government unionize against the people.

[ArchAngel1983]

" Another fatal blow from “the Greatest Generation”, letting the government unionize against the people."

Yep, funny how the 'Greatest Generation' gave birth to 'The Worst'. I'm glad I now live in a 'Right to Work State'. I hate unions! I've seen firsthand how the unions are for the 'little guy' growing up in Western Pennsylvania...1929...all the time every time.

[Don Corleone]

A 3% increase in the percentage of working voters who will tend to vote Democratic in their own self interest- courtesy of your tax dollars. Pretty soon there will very few people left with the incentive to even consider voting for another political party.

A long time ago, I don't recall just when, the government of China crashed and burned when too many people got employed in the government sector as opposed to the civilian side. History. History. History.

[ansel12]

I just can’t grasp the concept of allowing the government to unionize against the voters, it makes my brain melt a little.

[BenKenobi]

Interesting shift though, would be nice to make the concept of a union exactly equal to the concept of ‘big government’. Then the only unions will be in government.

[ArchAngel1983]

"I just can’t grasp the concept of allowing the government to unionize against the voters, it makes my brain melt a little."

It makes me want to puke! I've worked with these union freaks and it's not something you'd want to see spread too much further than the north (and look how wonderful life is there). Death to the unions!