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California offers a brighter future for America's beleaguered unions California offers a brighter future for America's beleaguered unions
(6 months later)
It's a sign of the times: the AFL-CIO, America's leading union federation, is hitting pause to engage in an unprecedented self-evaluation. With union membership rates the lowest in 97 years – and with Republicans stepping up destructive anti-union efforts at the state and national level – labor leaders decided it is time to stop, reflect and formulate a strategy for re-invention.It's a sign of the times: the AFL-CIO, America's leading union federation, is hitting pause to engage in an unprecedented self-evaluation. With union membership rates the lowest in 97 years – and with Republicans stepping up destructive anti-union efforts at the state and national level – labor leaders decided it is time to stop, reflect and formulate a strategy for re-invention.
What is to be done? While partisan attacks, employer hostility and union job loss from offshoring will continue, unions can look for inspiration to one of labor's few bright spots: California. The state is bucking the national trend of decline and adding union members at an impressive rate. Last year, union membership in California grew by more than 110,000 members. There, 17.2% of workers are union members, as opposed to just 11.3% nationally.What is to be done? While partisan attacks, employer hostility and union job loss from offshoring will continue, unions can look for inspiration to one of labor's few bright spots: California. The state is bucking the national trend of decline and adding union members at an impressive rate. Last year, union membership in California grew by more than 110,000 members. There, 17.2% of workers are union members, as opposed to just 11.3% nationally.
There are a few secrets to labor's success in California. The state's economic recovery has been gaining steam and employers are hiring at a rapid pace relative to other states. A stronger economy is more hospitable to unions, since workers are less fearful of losing their jobs and more willing to advocate for better conditions.There are a few secrets to labor's success in California. The state's economic recovery has been gaining steam and employers are hiring at a rapid pace relative to other states. A stronger economy is more hospitable to unions, since workers are less fearful of losing their jobs and more willing to advocate for better conditions.
California is friendly territory in another way: it has a Democratic governor and pro-worker super-majority in the legislature – thanks in part to union get-out-the-vote mobilization in November's election.California is friendly territory in another way: it has a Democratic governor and pro-worker super-majority in the legislature – thanks in part to union get-out-the-vote mobilization in November's election.
Another major factor behind California's union membership surge has been unions' desire and ability to organize immigrant workers there in recent years. In the wake of massive job losses in manufacturing and textiles, unions have been organizing growing industries that can't be shifted overseas, such as healthcare, food service, retail, and transportation. Some work – flipping burgers, administering flu shots, or driving the city bus – just can't be shipped to China.Another major factor behind California's union membership surge has been unions' desire and ability to organize immigrant workers there in recent years. In the wake of massive job losses in manufacturing and textiles, unions have been organizing growing industries that can't be shifted overseas, such as healthcare, food service, retail, and transportation. Some work – flipping burgers, administering flu shots, or driving the city bus – just can't be shipped to China.
There's a high concentration of immigrant workers working in low-wage jobs in these sectors. So, when California unions organize car-wash workers, home care aides, recycling center workers and truck drivers, they're adding many more immigrants to their ranks. The same goes for casino workers in Nevada and janitors in Texas – two of the other five states that saw net union membership gains in 2012.There's a high concentration of immigrant workers working in low-wage jobs in these sectors. So, when California unions organize car-wash workers, home care aides, recycling center workers and truck drivers, they're adding many more immigrants to their ranks. The same goes for casino workers in Nevada and janitors in Texas – two of the other five states that saw net union membership gains in 2012.
Whether documented or not, these workers have the legal right to join US unions. Doing so is good for them, because they get better wages , as well as protections they wouldn't have without a union contract. In 2012, union members in the US averaged pay of $943 a week, compared to $742 for non-union members.Whether documented or not, these workers have the legal right to join US unions. Doing so is good for them, because they get better wages , as well as protections they wouldn't have without a union contract. In 2012, union members in the US averaged pay of $943 a week, compared to $742 for non-union members.
More undocumented immigrants joining unions is also good for US workers as a whole. Union protections make it harder for employers to exploit immigrant workers – and undercut pay and conditions for native-born workers.More undocumented immigrants joining unions is also good for US workers as a whole. Union protections make it harder for employers to exploit immigrant workers – and undercut pay and conditions for native-born workers.
Since raising the floor benefits the workforce as a whole, it seems natural that unions would welcome immigrants into their ranks and support immigrants' efforts to become citizens and pro-labor members of the American electorate. But it wasn't always so. In the first half of the 20th century, many unions were strongly opposed to immigration and supported restrictive policies. Allowing more immigrants into the U.S. was considered a zero-sum bad move: By adding more workers, you dilute the labor pool and hold down wages.Since raising the floor benefits the workforce as a whole, it seems natural that unions would welcome immigrants into their ranks and support immigrants' efforts to become citizens and pro-labor members of the American electorate. But it wasn't always so. In the first half of the 20th century, many unions were strongly opposed to immigration and supported restrictive policies. Allowing more immigrants into the U.S. was considered a zero-sum bad move: By adding more workers, you dilute the labor pool and hold down wages.
Legendary labor leader Cesar Chavez, for example, took a hard line against illegal immigration. As head of the United Farm Workers of America, he saw the undocumented as potential scabs, and at one point, encouraged members to intimidate workers crossing the border illegally.Legendary labor leader Cesar Chavez, for example, took a hard line against illegal immigration. As head of the United Farm Workers of America, he saw the undocumented as potential scabs, and at one point, encouraged members to intimidate workers crossing the border illegally.
Labor's tune began to change in earnest in the 1980s, and in 1986, unions supported reform that granted amnesty to several million undocumented immigrants in the US. Labor leaders saw that undocumented status is bad for immigrants and native-born workers alike: it opened the door to abuse by employers threatening to deport anyone who spoke up about pay or conditions, creating an underclass that might undercut other workers' wages. The status quo was both inhumane and divisive.Labor's tune began to change in earnest in the 1980s, and in 1986, unions supported reform that granted amnesty to several million undocumented immigrants in the US. Labor leaders saw that undocumented status is bad for immigrants and native-born workers alike: it opened the door to abuse by employers threatening to deport anyone who spoke up about pay or conditions, creating an underclass that might undercut other workers' wages. The status quo was both inhumane and divisive.
What's more, economists studying the issue found that immigrant workers largely work alongside native-born workers rather than displace them, so fears that immigration significantly depressed local wages were, for the most part, unfounded. There's now a growing consensus that immigration is good for Americans' living standards, over the long run.What's more, economists studying the issue found that immigrant workers largely work alongside native-born workers rather than displace them, so fears that immigration significantly depressed local wages were, for the most part, unfounded. There's now a growing consensus that immigration is good for Americans' living standards, over the long run.
Unions' departure from their restrictionist past paid off: the 1986 immigration reforms raised wages – both for the previously undocumented and for US workers as a whole – and boosted the economy, research shows.Unions' departure from their restrictionist past paid off: the 1986 immigration reforms raised wages – both for the previously undocumented and for US workers as a whole – and boosted the economy, research shows.
Today, America's unions are united in support of immigration reform that promises to offer 8 million undocumented workers a path to citizenship. To pass comprehensive reform, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka has promised an all-out, election-style campaign, including phone banks and door-to-door canvassing.Today, America's unions are united in support of immigration reform that promises to offer 8 million undocumented workers a path to citizenship. To pass comprehensive reform, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka has promised an all-out, election-style campaign, including phone banks and door-to-door canvassing.
So, while the AFL-CIO has many obstacles to contemplate in its retreat, the unions' stance on immigration reform is, fortunately, not one of them. The challenge, instead, is a battle plan to win over Congress – and then to replicate success in California across the country.So, while the AFL-CIO has many obstacles to contemplate in its retreat, the unions' stance on immigration reform is, fortunately, not one of them. The challenge, instead, is a battle plan to win over Congress – and then to replicate success in California across the country.
That won't be easy. As organized money looks to undo the power of organized labor, union-busting by employers and politicians alike will continue. But a renewed focus on organizing immigrants who toil in low-wage industries – as well as advocating for them in the political arena – will bring new blood, new ideas and new members into a struggling movement. It will also help the US labor movement as a whole regain lost footing, and could provide the spark it needs to stage a comeback.

While a reflection of the deep problems unions face, the self-evaluation that the AFL-CIO is undertaking is healthy. It's a sign that organized labor is facing threats head-on and mapping out a path to survival. To that end, California points the way.		That won't be easy. As organized money looks to undo the power of organized labor, union-busting by employers and politicians alike will continue. But a renewed focus on organizing immigrants who toil in low-wage industries – as well as advocating for them in the political arena – will bring new blood, new ideas and new members into a struggling movement. It will also help the US labor movement as a whole regain lost footing, and could provide the spark it needs to stage a comeback.

While a reflection of the deep problems unions face, the self-evaluation that the AFL-CIO is undertaking is healthy. It's a sign that organized labor is facing threats head-on and mapping out a path to survival. To that end, California points the way.
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