What do you want first the good news or the bad news?
Lets be positive and start with the good news - latest figures from the Labour Force Survey show union membership basically steady. The bad news is that density fell by some 0.6 per cent, and membership gains in the public sector were more than balanced out by losses in the private sector.
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National Statistics Online
posted by Paul @ Saturday, April 16, 2005
2 Comments:
Disappointing to see falls in union density continuing five years after the statutory union recognition legislation cam einto force. Any thoughts on this?
Lots of factors, but I think chief amongst them is the decline in manufacturing employment. MG Rover is a prime example of this - without a rescue package we may see the loss of 6,000 unionised jobs virtually overnight.
There is a limit to what unions can do to mitigate this, but think we have more scope when it comes to other factors.
For example, membership growth in the public sector is not keeping pace with the growth of employment - and we are strugggling to make inroads into the private service sector. Lots we can do - but think crucial point is making a step change in the resources we invest in organising and recruitment in these areas.
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