By the PA. AFL-CIO

–    Bureau of Labor Statistics report shows workers represented by a labor union grew by 50,000 in the last year

When it comes to declining union membership in the United States, Pennsylvania is bucking the national trend according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The report, derived from data collected from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides basic information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment, shows that in Pennsylvania, the percentage of workers in the state who are represented by a labor union in their workplace grew in the last year from 13.7% to 14.4%. In raw numbers that represents an increase in the last year of 50,000 more workers represented by a union, putting the total number of workers represented by a union in the Commonwealth at 804,000.

“At a time when workers are facing unprecedented attacks from anti-union forces in the Pennsylvania legislature and their big-money corporate allies, it is remarkable that union membership is on the rise. Clearly the anti-worker, anti-union forces are not dampening the spirits of workers who are winning their rights to collective bargaining and joining unions and the fight to build middle class opportunities for everyone,” said Rick Bloomingdale, President of the AFL-CIO.

“Workers in Pennsylvania are waking up and realizing that if they want fairer wages and better working conditions they need to make their voices heard and there is no better way to do that than forming or joining a union. More and more workers in Pennsylvania are realizing their best path to a middle class life is through a labor union and I salute all those who working hard and organizing so all workers can secure a better life,” said Frank Snyder.

Source – http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=6722