There are 14 million union members in the United States.
Forget for a minute the rapid and alarming decline in the overall percentage (11.9) and the incredible shrinkage in the private sector (6.9).
Even though nearly twice as many Americans watch American Idol each week, 14 mil is nevertheless a lot of people. And keep in mind the multiplier effect: the number of union “households.” You get my point.
Granted, many union members pay virtually no attention to the fact that they work under a collective bargaining agreement and some will immediately throw out any mail which comes to their house (particularly if it recommends how they should vote).
But taking into account hostile or indifferent members, the labor movement still has enormous reach and - in many circles - strong support and loyalty.
Over the past 20 years, Los Angeles has developed a pretty impressive activist base. Yet in this vastly populated region - there are allegedly as many as 800,000 union members in LA County- only a very small portion do anything union-related (attend a membership meeting, steward training or rally).
With national attention on Madison, one of organized labor’s most important and toughest jobs is to mobilize our membership.
As you know, different unions have very particular cultures and member profiles. Local union officers, staff, reps and organizers - already stressed by current obligations - may now feel added pressure to take their outreach efforts to a new level.
But just imagine: If the planned March 26 downtown LA labor demonstration drew one percent of the county’s union members, the streets would be clogged for miles.
I’m convinced that millions of union members across America are moved by the events in Wisconsin.
Now it’s up to our unions to keep in step.