Using Union Membership Losses and Political Expenditures in an Organizing Campaign

Abstract

Last year, some of the country's biggest unions continued to lose members, while others spent their members' hard earned dollars on politics without successful results. According to federal reports filed each year by unions, this continues a trend seen over the public sector and private industry. Union membership declined by well over 100,000 members. These are large numbers, especially considering that each lost member means a further reduction in union dues revenue, while expenses remain the same.