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Communities Do Better When Unions Are Stronger

Studies show that states in which more people are union members are states with higher wages, better benefits and better schools. While unions are just one of the factors that affect the quality of living, the pattern indicates that when workers have a voice, everyone in the community benefits—not just union members.

Ten States with Strongest Unions

(based on percentage of the workforce with a union) are:

  • Hawaii
  • New York
  • Alaska
  • New Jersey
  • Washington State
  • Michigan
  • Illinois
  • Minnesota
  • California
  • Connecticut

Ten States with Weakest Unions

(based on percentage of the workforce with a union) are:

  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Virginia
  • Georgia
  • Texas
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Utah
  • Mississippi
  • South Dakota

Ten States Where Unions Are Strongest  ----- Ten States Where Unions Are Weakest

Average Hourly Manufacturing Earnings, 2005 (1)
$17.01 -----$14.39

Median Household Income, 2005 (2)
$53,380  ----- $43,204

Percent of Population With No Medical Insurance, 2005 (3) -----
13.4% 17.5%

Workplace Fatalities Per 100,000 Employees, 2004 (4)
4.0 ----- 5.2

Public Education Spending Per Pupil, 2005-2006 (5)
$10,507----- $7,580

Percent of Eligible Voters Who Voted in Presidential Election, 2004 (6)
60.8% -----55.0%

Crimes Per 100,000 Population, 2004 (7)
3,715----- 4,168

Percent of Population in Poverty, 2005 (8)
10.4% -----13.4%

Sources:

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
  2. U.S. Census Bureau
  3. U.S. Census Bureau
  4. BLS, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2004
  5. National Education Association, Rankings and Estimates—Rankings of the States 2005 and Estimates of School Statistics, 2006, November 2006.
  6. Fair Vote, the Center for Voting and Democracy. Committee for the Study of the American Electorate.
  7. Kathleen O’Leary Morgan and Scott Morgan, State Rankings 2006, Morgan Quitno Press, 2006.
  8. U.S. Census Bureau

Pioneer Press Editorial: More progress on St. Croix bridge south of Stillwater

Submitted by JohnSee on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 4:59pm

(Editorial in Jan 25, 2012 issue) In June, we went on record on these pages in support of an imperfect solution to a real problem. The solution is a four-lane freeway-style bridge crossing the St. Croix River south of Stillwater that would help solve the town's longstanding traffic-congestion problems. It needed exemption from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to allow the project to go forward. Read more »

St. Croix River Crossing: Not an albatross, a necessity

Submitted by JohnSee on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 4:28pm

An opinion piece by Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades' President Harry Melander appeared in the January 12 issue of the Minneapolis StarTribune. An excerpt of  "St. Croix River Crossing: Not an albatross, a necessity" is reprinted here. Read the entire editorial at StarTribune.com. Read more »

Operating Engineers are changing the landscape of health care

Submitted by KatieSanders on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 10:29am

By Katie Sanders Members of Local 49 of the International Union of Operating Engineers are accustomed to reshaping huge tracts of land with heavy equipment. But the union is also changing a different kind of landscape – health care – through an innovative approach that focuses on prevention. Union officers said the steps they began taking more than five years ago have not only saved lives – they saved millions of dollars and helped Local 49 keep health care costs under control. Read more »

Building Trades protest non-union construction associated with HCMC

Submitted by JohnSee on Wed, 10/19/2011 - 10:06pm

Minneapolis Building Trades members are questioning how a facility associated with Hennepin County Medical Center – one of Minnesota’s leading publicly operated health institutions – can be built by a California company using non-union, out-of-state workers. Union members protested Wednesday at the site of the nearly completed, $15 million distribution center in an industrial park in Rogers. They carried signs and chanted, “Minnesota jobs for Minnesota workers!” Read more »

Letter to the editor from President Melander about the recent tragedies

Submitted by JohnSee on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 9:07pm

MNBCT President Harry MelanderLast week, three Minnesotans who were at work doing what they do every day, tragically lost their lives. Craig D. Carlson and Ronald Rajkowski died when a car plowed into them alongside Interstate 35W in Burnsville while they were working. Electrician Thomas Michael Gamboni was electrocuted while working on a sign in Centerville. Read more »

Secretary of Labor Solis in Minneapolis at the 10th Ave Bridge

Submitted by JohnSee on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 1:35pm

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis visited with construction workers, politicians, and business leaders at the 10th Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis on Thursday, Sept. 29 She was in Minneapolis to discuss the American Jobs Act’s impact for Minnesota’s economy and the state’s workers. She also addressed a national young workers conference hosted by the AFL-CIO to discuss what the president’s plan means for youth, college students and young professionals. Read more »

U.S.Transportation Secretary LaHood at the historic Union Depot Station

Submitted by JohnSee on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 12:10pm

On Monday, Sept.19, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff visited Minnesota in support of President Obama’s American Jobs Act and called on Congress to make significant investments in job-creating transportation projects across the country like the currently underway Central Corridor Light Rail project.  Read more »

AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust Honors over 150 Workers at Flux Apartments

Submitted by JohnSee on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 11:35am

The AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust (BIT) and Greco Development LLC recently held an appreciation luncheon to honor union workers at the Flux Apartments' construction site in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. Over 150 workers, all members of unions affiliated with the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council, were in attendance. Guests were also joined by national and local labor leaders who recognized the BIT for its commitment to job creation in the area and praised the workers for their skill and professionalism. Read more »

The singing iron worker of the 2nd Avenue subway: A "Summer Wind" breezes through downtown

Submitted by JohnSee on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 1:30pm

A new subway line is being built in New York City on the east side of Central Park. Its loud, dirty, noisy, and a general pain in the neck for anyone traveling through that part of town. It also involves a lot of union trades workers with good jobs who are creating a much easier option for anybody trying to get around NYC in the future. Amidst all the noise and dust is Gary Russo from Iron Workers Local 40 who has decided to help alleviate the situation- with song. Read more »

Building Trades members gather and it’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs

Submitted by JohnSee on Thu, 07/28/2011 - 3:17pm

Facing the worst employment outlook in decades, representatives of state construction unions gathered in their annual convention Thursday to put the focus on jobs. They heard from numerous speakers, including legislators, with Governor Mark Dayton scheduled to address delegates Friday.

The 65th annual convention of the Minnesota State Building & Construction Trades Council follows a nearly three-week state government shutdown that idled thousands of private sector construction workers in addition to 22,000 state employees. Read more »