Series Explores How Unions Lost Their Way

The Washington Examiner just a week long series examining the role of unions in the United States and asks the question “Are unions obsolete?”

The Examiner is a somewhat conservative, pro-business newspaper, and the tone of the articles reflects this, but the series is still a great read. The authors have done a lot of research and come up with some observations that at the very least serve as food for thought.

Here are a couple of examples:

An analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Labor Relations Board shows that less than 10 percent of unionized employees ever voted to have their workplaces organized.

Since 2003, family members who care for their own family members at home and receive financial aid from the State of Illinois have been required to join the SEIU and pay monthly dues out the benefits they receive, up to $750 annually.

I’ve posted link to all five articles in the series below.  It’s well worth the time it will take to read the series.

Chapter I:

Big Labor’s identity crisis

Chapter II:

Unions and the Democratic Party

Chapter III:

Right to work vs. card check: Unions face challenges

Chapter IV:

Forced unionism: The SEIU and Illinois home health-care workers

Chapter V:

Employee Rights Act defines efforts to reinvent the union