Rather than enhance individual employee rights, labor unions now fight to hold on to the jobs they have. These fights are not about massive wage increases or massive benefit increases. A good job with good benefits is a precious commodity in America today. But labor unions are not needed to get or keep a good job with good benefits in our economy. Unions petition the NLRB for election whenever employees show enough interest.in union representation.
Reality is demonstrated by the steep drop off in union petitions for NLRB elections.
In 1971, unions filed almost 13,000 petitions for election. In 1994, fewer than 6,000 such petitions were filed. Union failures to meet the challenges of a modern economy and modern human resource management are demonstrated in this increasing failure to convince employees that union dues are needed to get or keep a good job with good benefits. But labor unions will persevere. Their resources and reserves, while not unlimited, are far from insignificant.