by Ken Vincent, Featured Contributor
Union membership has been declining, pretty much across the board since the early 1980s.
Union and political attempts to weaken or eliminate right to work laws in several states have failed to gain enough traction to produce results.
Court rulings in recent years have, for the most part, not favored union positions. Two recent Supreme Court rulings also went against union desires.
A significant increase in the minimum wage, which is likely, will also not favor unions. The higher the minimum wage, the harder it is for unions to gain significant pay increases in negotiations.
Recent rulings of both courts and mediators have leaned toward the side of weakening stringent work rules, or at the very least not strengthening them.
The continuing weakness of the economic environment has not been a favorable atmosphere for unions to increase demands in negotiations. Many unions have continued to work without a contract for months hoping for a better environment in which to negotiate.
So, what is the future for unions? Are they a need of the past? Are they still relevant and if so to what degree and in which industries? Is the high tech revolution making unions less relevant? What do you think?
