Well, Rush, this too should fall under your "Why? Becuz u sez so?" mantra. Provide evidence of it.

From the first hit on Google under "union membership decline," About.com cites the U.S. Department of Labor:

"The changing conditions of the 1980s and 1990s undermined the position of organized labor, which now represented a shrinking share of the work force. While more than one-third of employed people belonged to unions in 1945, union membership fell to 24.1 percent of the U.S. work force in 1979 and to 13.9 percent in 1998."

My numbers were close enough. You can do the rest of the research yourself.

Well, Rush, this too should fall under your "Why? Becuz u sez so?" mantra. Provide evidence of it.

From the first hit on Google under "union membership decline," About.com cites the U.S. Department of Labor:

"The changing conditions of the 1980s and 1990s undermined the position of organized labor, which now represented a shrinking share of the work force. While more than one-third of employed people belonged to unions in 1945, union membership fell to 24.1 percent of the U.S. work force in 1979 and to 13.9 percent in 1998."

My numbers were close enough. You can do the rest of the research yourself.

The numbers provided here back up everything I've stated about the corporate assault on unionized working people since WWII

They're not worth it.

Thank goodness for unions. I wouldn't dare not be in one. Employers can really take advantage of those people who aren't in a union.

You cannot be taken advantage of if you do not allow it. [snip] you just need to make better decisions.

You cannot be taken advantage of if you do not allow it. [snip] you just need to make better decisions.

And it darn well better be the 'right' decision! Otherwise, you'll find yourself on an industry wide 'blacklist'... ;)

(Funny how that works.)

You cannot be taken advantage of if you do not allow it.
You all have the ability to tell your employers to sod off if/when they attempt to "take advantage of you". It's your choice who you work for, as it is also your choice to stay employed there. You don't need a union to hold your hand, you just need to make better decisions.

You cannot be taken advantage of if you do not allow it. [snip] you just need to make better decisions.

And it darn well better be the 'right' decision! Otherwise, you'll find yourself on an industry wide 'blacklist'... ;)

(Funny how that works.)

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

You cannot be taken advantage of if you do not allow it.
You all have the ability to tell your employers to sod off if/when they attempt to "take advantage of you". It's your choice who you work for, as it is also your choice to stay employed there. You don't need a union to hold your hand, you just need to make better decisions.

Don't you think, for the sake of your children and the bank holding your mortgage, that's it's just simpler to unionize rather than be unemployed?
It removes the need to tell the employer to "Sod off".

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

Has that happened a lot to you, Jeffrey?

You cannot be taken advantage of if you do not allow it.
You all have the ability to tell your employers to sod off if/when they attempt to "take advantage of you". It's your choice who you work for, as it is also your choice to stay employed there. You don't need a union to hold your hand, you just need to make better decisions.

Don't you think, for the sake of your children and the bank holding your mortgage, that's it's just simpler to unionize rather than be unemployed?
It removes the need to tell the employer to "Sod off".

I'm self employed and can happily tell anyone to sod off without needing a union to do it for me.

I made the right decisions (for my life, they may not be for yours).

My mortgage is 2 years old and will be paid fully in 2 more. I'm self employed and can happily tell anyone to sod off without needing a union to do it for me. I made the right decisions (for my life, they may not be for yours).

Should they approach their employer individually

I'm self employed and can happily tell anyone to sod off without needing a union to do it for me.

All that tells 'me' is either:
A. Your daddy helped you in some way shape or form... (Nothing wrong with that, it's his duty.)
B. You've sold your soul in exchange for a leisurely lifestyle... (Sorry to hear that.)

I can't help but notice that alot of the replies to my original post have shown that the prevalent emotion when making your decisions is fear. Fear of bank/mortgage, fear of credit rating, fear of job stability, fear of black-listing etc.

Making your decisions with the prevalent emotion being desire is much more empowering and conducive to contentment.

Has that happened a lot to you, Jeffrey?

Yep, everywhere that I've ever worked...