A recent spate of somewhat high-profile union organizing campaigns among younger workers seems to indicate a new spark of life for organized labor, despite decades of steady membership decline. In a March 14th online article article for a SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), author Theresa Agovino reached out to LRI President Phil Wilson for insight. “The activity is more smoke than fire,” Phil reassured. “Unions are good at taking a smaller group of people and making them look large.” Unions point to the perceived gulf between “haves” and “have-nots” and claim the environment is ripe to grow the union membership. Phil’s advice is to keep a pulse on the needs and issues employees are concerned about. “The solution isn’t that complicated. Listen when employees share concerns and act on what you hear. If people aren’t being treated right and they complain and you do nothing, what do you expect?”
