The number of union members also fell slightly in 2000 - to 16.3 million from 16.5 million. One of the few bright spots for unions was the public sector. Blacks were more likely than either whites or Hispanics to be union members. In 1983, the rate for men was 24.7 percent while the rate for women was 14.6 percent. Finance, insurance and real estate had the lowest unionization rate among private nonagricultural industries-1.6 percent.
Every union needs to do more.
We need to refocus and rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every working person who wants a union in this country has that opportunity. Michael Wiener, an attorney with Dechert Price and Rhoads in Philadelphia, said he wasn't surprised by the data. Wiener adds that new National Labor Relations Board appointments by the Bush administration could have an effect on how these numbers hold up in 2001. Read other Human Resource Executive magazine stories from our archive. All materials copyright of Human Resource Executive magazine.