Union decline continues in 2012

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual report on union membership:

"In 2012, the union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of a union--was 11.3 percent, down from 11.8 percent in 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.4 million, also declined over the year. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent, and there were 17.7 million union workers."

Declining volume of strikes

Anyone needing factual confirmation of the decline of organized labor need only look at the historical trend of strikes affecting more than 1000 workers. The decline since the 1970's is steep. In contrast, the number of employees idled by management lockouts has spiked.

Unholy alliance, pigs flying or both

The AFL-CIO, the SEIU and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are exploring a joint effort on immigration reform. Enlightened business interests have for years been pushing sane immigration policies. Labor economists predict labor shortages in coming years. One of the effects of the Hispanic participation in the 2012 election is to remove demonizing immigrants from the political debate.

Fortune releases top employer list

Google, Inc. tops Fortune Magazine's list of top one hundred employers.

Modest job growth continues in December

The January jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates 155,000 jobs were created in December. Unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.8%.

Religion trumps contraception mandate

In a divided opinion the Seventh Circuit has issued an injunction in favor of an employer and its owners against the contraceptive mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). This case (and the several others raising the same issue) set up an epic showdown between employers (and it seems also owners) claiming religious objections to mandated programs. In this instance the employer/owners objected to  "no cost sharing contraception, sterilization and medical services the Catholic religion teaches are gravely immoral." The employer/owners claimed the imposition violated their First and Fifth Amendment rights as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In reversing a trial court denial of injunctive relief the divided panel found the employer and its owners had exhibited a likelihood of success necessary for injunctive relief. A split in circuits exists and the issue probably will reach the Supreme Court. On this one, Judge Rovner's dissent makes a lot of sense.