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Can Unions Rebound? Decline and Renewal in the US Labour Movement

In: Union Revitalisation in Advanced Economies

Author

Listed:
  • Marc Dixon

    (Dartmouth College)

  • Jack Fiorito

    (Florida State University
    University of Hertfordshire)

Abstract

Union decline has reached crisis proportions for the American labour movement. To be sure, union membership among private sector employees is now lower than at any point since the Great Depression (Hirsch and Macpherson 2007). The number of union elections held through the NLRB — still a key link in the primary mechanism for private sector membership recruitment — stands at about half of pre-1980s levels. Can unions rebound? If so, just what would it take? These questions are the source of much debate within and around organised labour, underlying successive shake-ups at the top of the American labour movement. The suggestions are many for a beleaguered labour movement. Some question the big picture payoff of enhanced labour organising for restoring union power and instead call for a more general rethinking of unionism and potential labour allies (Clawson 2003a; Sullivan 2007). Scholars and activists looking to build on recent innovations in labour organising still find themselves at odds over so-called ‘top-down,’ or more staff driven efforts, versus ‘bottom up,’ member driven approaches (Early 2004a;Fantasia and Voss 2004; Lerner 2003, 2007; Moody 2007; Voss and Sherman 2000). Such debates over appropriate union approach and structure are not new.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Dixon & Jack Fiorito, 2009. "Can Unions Rebound? Decline and Renewal in the US Labour Movement," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Gregor Gall (ed.), Union Revitalisation in Advanced Economies, chapter 8, pages 154-174, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-23347-8_8
    DOI: 10.1057/9780230233478_8
    as

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