LANSING – Union membership in Michigan rebounded significantly in 2015 after suffering a sharp decline in 2014, the first full year of Michigan being a right-to-work state. This despite the fact that the state went from 14.5 percent of all employees belonging to a union to 15.2 percent even as more contracts ratified prior to right-to-work taking effect in March 2013 expired and were replaced by ones that no longer required employees to at least pay a non-member agency fee was notable.
Additionally, the percentage of Michigan employees represented by a union rose in 2015 to 16.5 percent from 15.7 percent.
In both statistics, union membership/representation still trails where the state stood prior to right-to-work.
In 2013, 16.3 percent of Michigan workers belonged to a union and 16.9 percent were represented by one.
“This is good news for all working people in Michigan,” said Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, in a statement. “Despite the unrelenting attacks from Lansing politicians, working people understand the value of collective bargaining. A union contract gives working people the power to speak up together with one clear voice for fair wages, strong benefits, and time to be with family.”
Nationally, the percentage of members belonging to a union held at 11.1 percent.
Michigan saw the 10th-largest gain among the 50 states in union representation. Connecticut saw the largest gain nationally with a 2.2 percent increase. Wisconsin saw the biggest decline with a 3.4 percent drop.
Michigan had the 12th-largest rise in the percentage of workers represented by a union. Mississippi was first in this category with a 2.3 percent increase. The biggest decline occurred in Wisconsin with a 3.1 percent decrease.
Last year, union leaders had said growth could return as the workforce turns over. They also said if the economy strengthened, that would restore union membership.
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