Labor Unions and the Great Recession

• Published in: RSF : Russell Sage Foundation journal of the social sciences Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 145 - 165
• Main Authors: Milkman, Ruth, Luce, Stephanie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Russell Sage Foundation 01-04-2017
• Subjects: Business cycles; Collective bargaining; Density; Economic conditions; Economic crisis; Economic depression; Economic recessions; Employment; Great Depression; Great Recession; industrial relations; Industrial unions; Inequality; Labor law; Labor legislation; Labor movements; Labor relations; Labor unionization; Labor unions; New Deal; organizing; Part II. Social Consequences of the Great Recession; Private sector; Public interest; Public policy; Public sector; Public sector industries; recession; Recessions; Trends; Unemployment insurance; union density; Union membership; Unionization; unions; Wages & salaries; Wall Street; Workers; United States > US
• ISSN: 2377-8253; 2377-8261
• DOI: 10.7758/rsf.2017.3.3.07

This article examines the impact of the Great Recession on the U.S. labor movement. After reviewing the classic industrial relations literature on the relationship between unionization rates and business cycles, we analyze historical union density trends. After documenting the relentless downward trend in the private sector from the early 1980s, with no apparent relationship to the business cycle, we analyze the negative impact of the political dynamic that unfolded in the wake of the Great Recession on public-sector unionism in sharp contrast to what took place during the Great Depression. We also explore the new forms of labor organizing that have emerged in the private sector, which have capitalized on the growing public concern about rising inequality sparked by Occupy Wall Street.