With membership declining, labor unions look to revitalize (Take our poll)

[Starry Messenger]

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/04/with_membership_declining_labo.html (the poll there needs some labor-friendly love, fellow workers)

Organized labor is no longer in denial about its dwindling numbers and diminished political power: Unions lost 400,000 members last year, and states like Indiana and Wisconsin have clipped the organizing rights of state employees and others. These changes are driving traditional unions toward innovative, but potentially risky, new approaches.

The new ideas being explored are rooted in the belief that many more workers than the 14.4 million who currently belong to labor unions would organize in some way if they had the opportunity.

Labor leaders see the largest growth potential in the private-sector -- the overwhelming majority of the country's workforce -- where union membership as fallen farther and more quickly than in the public sector.

Labor leaders see reason for hope in the growth of non-union groups that are finding unconventional ways to represent workers in difficult-to-organize industries such as warehouses, retail and restaurants, and are exploring ways to partner with and support those efforts.

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[limpyhobbler]

1. This poll needs some help.

[femmocrat]

2. Done.

Kick.

[Lugnut]

3. This is the option I voted for.

"They are more vital than ever to protect workers 28.22% (197 votes)".

[Starry Messenger]

5. Thank you Lugnut.

That was the option I voted for too.

[cloudbase]

4. It's likely too late

to undo the damage done by Kirkland and Sweeney.