Article of the Month

Unionization Substantially Increases the Wages of Service-Sector Workers

After decades of disappointing wage growth for many American workers, a new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) shows that unionization significantly boosts the wages of service-sector workers. Link to the report here.

Archive of Past Articles

Workers Illegally Fired in 30% of Union Election Campaigns

The paper, "Dropping the Ax: Illegal Firings During Union Election Campaigns, 1951-2007," by John Schmitt and Ben Zipperer finds a significant increase in the current decade in the share of union-representation elections where workers have been fired for supporting the creation of a union. Link to the paper here.

Newspapers need to cover labor as fairly as they cover themselves

By Marv Russow, President of UFCW local 951. Download pdf here.

Reversal of Fortune

In this article for Vanity Fair economist Joseph E. Stiglitz explains how ideology, special-interest pressure, populist politics, and sheer incompetence have left the U.S. economy on life support. Most important he "puts forth a clear,commonsense plan to reverse the Bush-era follies and regain America's economic sanity." Download a pdf of the article here.

Steelworkers Merge With British Union

This short New York Times article summarizes the creation of the world's first global union. Download a pdf of the article here.

The Union Wage Advantage for Low-Wage Workers

Overall workers in union jobs earn more than those in similar but non-union jobs. John Schmitt goes a step further by breaking down the union wage benefit by income level (and by state). The conclusion: the low wage workers gain even more from unionization. Download a pdf of the article here.

Taking Unions Out of the Workplace

The AFL-CIO established the new community affiliate, Working America, as a a way for millions of workers who are currently not in a union to be involved in the labor movement. As the 2008 elections approach Working America has become a signficant grassroots force. Read Nelson Lichtenstein's article here.

A Comeback for the UAW?

This Business Week insight piece argues that an aging workforce at U.S.-based Japanese plants and a resentful new generation in Detroit could bring the union roaring back to life. Download here.

Worker Solidarity Doesn’t Have to Stop at the Rio Grande

This New York Times editorial pointing to how building trans-border unions can redefine the imigration debate. Download here.

Hardly a Union Hotbed, Toyota’s Kentucky Plant Is a Test forOrganizers

This New York Times article explores recent U.S. worker unrest at Toyota. Download here.

The Poverty Business

Inside U.S. companies' audacious drive to extract more profits from the nation's working poor. Article from Business Week.

Global Union for Boeing Workers

Boeing Co. workers around the world now have a new and stronger voice to deal with the multinational aerospace giant with the formation last week of the Global Union Alliance. Click here for a pdf file of the article by Mike Hall.

Building Labor Power in the American South

The Building Regional Power Research Project's two new case studies show how the labor movement and its allies are building power in the anti-union South. Read about North Carolina and Atlanta at powerbuilding.wayne.edu.

The New War on Unions

A new outfit, The Center for Union Facts, had entered the anti-union business. Esther Kaplan looks at who these people are and why the right-wing is increasingly concerned with fighting unions. Download pdf file.

Finding a Place for Immigrant Workers in Today’s Labor Movement

On May Day, close to a million immigrants engaged in the largest political strike since the movement at the close of the 19th century for the eight-hour day. How can these workers become part of the labor movement? Janice Fine argues that the labor movement needs to embrace new forms of organization

Live Up to the Living Wage

This joint report between the center and the Sugar Law Center looks at the impact of the 16 living wage laws enacted in Michigan.

Paradigm Shift

David Moberg details labor's success by eschewing NLRB elections in favor of employer neutrality and card checks in this article from In These Times.

The Decline in African-American Representation in Unions and Auto Manufacturing, 1979-2004.

The sharp decline in the auto manufacturing sector in the last 20 years has hit African Americans particularly hard. By John Sschmitt and Ben Zipperer of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. www.cepr.net. Click here if the above link does not work.

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Home Programs & Classes for Individuals Labor Studies Major Educational Programs for Unions Joint Labor- Management Programs Consulting & Technical Assistance for Unions Research Tools & Information You Can Use About the Center Our staff Contact us Map of campus Wayne State University links	Article of the Month Unionization Substantially Increases the Wages of Service-Sector Workers After decades of disappointing wage growth for many American workers, a new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) shows that unionization significantly boosts the wages of service-sector workers. Link to the report here. Archive of Past Articles Workers Illegally Fired in 30% of Union Election Campaigns The paper, "Dropping the Ax: Illegal Firings During Union Election Campaigns, 1951-2007," by John Schmitt and Ben Zipperer finds a significant increase in the current decade in the share of union-representation elections where workers have been fired for supporting the creation of a union. Link to the paper here. Newspapers need to cover labor as fairly as they cover themselves By Marv Russow, President of UFCW local 951. Download pdf here. Reversal of Fortune In this article for Vanity Fair economist Joseph E. Stiglitz explains how ideology, special-interest pressure, populist politics, and sheer incompetence have left the U.S. economy on life support. Most important he "puts forth a clear,commonsense plan to reverse the Bush-era follies and regain America's economic sanity." Download a pdf of the article here. Steelworkers Merge With British Union This short New York Times article summarizes the creation of the world's first global union. Download a pdf of the article here. The Union Wage Advantage for Low-Wage Workers Overall workers in union jobs earn more than those in similar but non-union jobs. John Schmitt goes a step further by breaking down the union wage benefit by income level (and by state). The conclusion: the low wage workers gain even more from unionization. Download a pdf of the article here. Taking Unions Out of the Workplace The AFL-CIO established the new community affiliate, Working America, as a a way for millions of workers who are currently not in a union to be involved in the labor movement. As the 2008 elections approach Working America has become a signficant grassroots force. Read Nelson Lichtenstein's article here. A Comeback for the UAW? This Business Week insight piece argues that an aging workforce at U.S.-based Japanese plants and a resentful new generation in Detroit could bring the union roaring back to life. Download here. Worker Solidarity Doesn’t Have to Stop at the Rio Grande This New York Times editorial pointing to how building trans-border unions can redefine the imigration debate. Download here. Hardly a Union Hotbed, Toyota’s Kentucky Plant Is a Test forOrganizers This New York Times article explores recent U.S. worker unrest at Toyota. Download here. The Poverty Business Inside U.S. companies' audacious drive to extract more profits from the nation's working poor. Article from Business Week. Global Union for Boeing Workers Boeing Co. workers around the world now have a new and stronger voice to deal with the multinational aerospace giant with the formation last week of the Global Union Alliance. Click here for a pdf file of the article by Mike Hall. Building Labor Power in the American South The Building Regional Power Research Project's two new case studies show how the labor movement and its allies are building power in the anti-union South. Read about North Carolina and Atlanta at powerbuilding.wayne.edu. The New War on Unions A new outfit, The Center for Union Facts, had entered the anti-union business. Esther Kaplan looks at who these people are and why the right-wing is increasingly concerned with fighting unions. Download pdf file. Finding a Place for Immigrant Workers in Today’s Labor Movement On May Day, close to a million immigrants engaged in the largest political strike since the movement at the close of the 19th century for the eight-hour day. How can these workers become part of the labor movement? Janice Fine argues that the labor movement needs to embrace new forms of organization Live Up to the Living Wage This joint report between the center and the Sugar Law Center looks at the impact of the 16 living wage laws enacted in Michigan. Paradigm Shift David Moberg details labor's success by eschewing NLRB elections in favor of employer neutrality and card checks in this article from In These Times. The Decline in African-American Representation in Unions and Auto Manufacturing, 1979-2004. The sharp decline in the auto manufacturing sector in the last 20 years has hit African Americans particularly hard. By John Sschmitt and Ben Zipperer of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. www.cepr.net. Click here if the above link does not work. Destroying Jobs in Order to Save Them Wayne State Law Professor Ellen Dannen shows how the current drive for privatization makes no sense financially, but does hurt the public and unionized workers. Click on the above link to download a two-page pdf file. For Blacks, A Dream in Decline Just as the black community benefited especially by the union gains of the 1960s and 1970s, so have African Americans been particularly hard hit by union decline. Hard Labour Struggling under tough conditions Iraqi workers build a democratic trade union movement.	Family & Medical Leave Act Workplace Health & Safety Employee Rights Employee Rights Q&A Researching Your Employer Guide to Union Member Surveys Collective Bargaining Article of the month feature Privatization Websites for Union Activism Helpful Labor-Related Web Sites Books, Manuals, & Videos Available from the Center American Rights@Work American Sociological Assoc. Labor Pages