Union Membership Drops Nationwide

WSIL -- ?Union membership nationwide has been dropping steadily. It has now fallen to what's believed to be the lowest level in 80 years.
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Illinois leads the country in the loss of union members, down by 75,000 people since 2011. At the same time, the state ranks third in the country for union membership.
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Some sectors are taking big hits, while others have been stable.
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The Illinois Education Association represents teachers in many Southern Illinois school districts.
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"I think we have to get back in touch with the new generation," said IEA Field Director Jim Clark.
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Over the past 30 years, the organization has grown.
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"In 1982, IEA had 50,000 members," said Clark. "Today, we're in the 130,000."
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Clark has watched the movement develop. He believes the union plays an important part in the classroom.
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"Sometimes the problem isn't you," said Clark, "It's the system. So how do you change the system? Well you need collective purpose and collective action."
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The IEA is bucking the trend, though.
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Union membership on a national scale is shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a yearly drop of about 400,000 people. More than 35 percent of public sector employees belong to a union, compared to less than 7% in the private sector.
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"Once the union goes away, wages come down again, benefits go down again," said IEA UniServ Director Matthew Johansson.
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Johansson believes the recession could be playing a role in the latest numbers.
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"People feel so grateful just to have a job that they are willing to put up with extra tasks," said Johansson.
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Johansson feels that some of the recent numbers are part of a cycle. He believes attitudes toward unions and what they bring are always shifting.
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"We're going through a transition, especially generationally," said Johansson, "We have the baby boomers that are leaving, and they for a long time were the leaders."
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While the IEA hasn't experienced the nationwide decline, they are still working to recruit new teachers. They also want to give them the tools to stay in their career long-term.
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"We have mentoring and professional development," said Johansson. "Those are things we have to really look at."
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You can find the Bureau of Labor Statistics study here: Union Members 2012

Source: http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Union-Membership-Drops-Nationwide-188924171.html

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