Labor Union Blog

A decade of declines in union membership slightly reversed in 2007. A new study from the University of California found that unionization rates in the United States increased by half a percentage point. 12.6 percent of workers in the U.S. are represented by a union. 2006 also saw an increase of one-tenth of a percentile. California, and specifically Los Angeles, can claim the most credit for the increase, California’s unionization rate in 2008 is 17.8 percent, up from 15.7 percent in 2006.

A decade of declines in union membership slightly reversed in 2007. A new study from the University of California found that unionization rates in the United States increased by half a percentage point. 12.6 percent of workers in the U.S. are represented by a union. 2006 also saw an increase of one-tenth of a percentile. California, and specifically Los Angeles, can claim the most credit for the increase, California’s unionization rate in 2008 is 17.8 percent, up from 15.7 percent in 2006.

A strike between the United Steelworkers and the world’s largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal, was dodged on Sunday as bargaining units on both sides found common ground on a tentative agreement. If approved by workers, the new four year contract would cover 14,000 current employees and even more retirees. Fourteen plants across the country will be impacted by the agreement. USW President, Leo Gerrard announced the agreement was reached via email and said it addressed concerns over employment security.

A strike between the United Steelworkers and the world’s largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal, was dodged on Sunday as bargaining units on both sides found common ground on a tentative agreement. If approved by workers, the new four year contract would cover 14,000 current employees and even more retirees. Fourteen plants across the country will be impacted by the agreement. USW President Leo Gerrard announced the agreement was reached via email and said it addressed concerns over employment security.

Some unhappy Labor Day news for 675 Freightliner workers at a Mount Holly, North Carolina plant. The company announced that it plans to cut those jobs on October 31. This is the third lay off in four years for the plant, slashing 478 jobs in 2007 and 260 jobs in 2005. The company also plans to lay off 325 workers at a plant in Gaffney, South Carolina.

Some unhappy Labor Day news for 675 Freightliner workers at a Mount Holly, North Carolina plant. The company announced that it plans to cut those jobs on October 31. This is the third lay off in four years for the plant, slashing 478 jobs in 2007 and 260 jobs in 2005. The company also plans to lay off 325 workers at a plant in Gaffney, South Carolina.

Minimum wage workers in New Hampshire will receive a Labor Day present this year. In 2007, Governor John Lynch signed into law a minimum wage increase to $7.25 per hour to go into effect on September 1, 2008. The current federal rate is $6.55 per hour.

Minimum wage workers in New Hampshire will receive a Labor Day present this year. In 2007 Governor John Lynch signed into law a minimum wage increase to $7.25 per hour to go into effect on September 1, 2008. The current federal rate is $6.55 per hour.

In more than 80 cities nationwide Interfaith Worker Justice sponsors Labor In The Pulpits during Labor Day weekend to honor the concept of worker justice in religious teaching. Kim Bobo is Executive Director of Interfaith Worker Justice. [Bobo]: “They just speak passage after passage about treating your neighbor justly, caring for people, making sure that wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a handful of people. I mean, they’re all passages that relate to faith at work. It turns out that solidarity with workers is next to godliness whether you’re Christian, Jewish or Muslim. [Bobo2