Union Membership up by 311,000 in 2007 (3/14/08)

In its first increase since 1983, union membership in the U.S. rose by 311,000 to 15.7 million workers in 2007.

 "The numbers confirm that more and more working people in the U.S. are coming to realize what RWDSU members already know: when workers stand together with a union voice, they are stronger," said RWDSU Secretary-Treasurer Jack Wurm.

"Given how unfair current U.S. labor laws are, we can only guess how many more workers would join unions if we had a president who would sign the Employee Free Choice Act,” he added.

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, union membership as a share of the total workforce is now 12.1 percent. At its peak in the 1950s roughly one-third of U.S. workers enjoyed union representation.