Labor unions have more political power in New York than in any other state for a very simple reason: They represent a larger percentage of workers here than anywhere else and have mostly held their own in recent years.
The chart shows the percentage of workers belonging to unions nationally and in New York, according to the annual report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week. New York is the most heavily unionized state in the nation and the only one with more than 20% of workers organized. By comparison, 17.5% of California workers belong to unions.
Union members as percentage of all employed
article continues below advertisement YearUSNY 2006 12.0% 24.4% 2007 12.1% 25.2% 2008 12.4% 24.9% 2009 12.3% 25.2% 2010 11.9% 24.2% 2011 11.8% 24.1% 2012 11.3% 23.2% 2013 11.3% 24.4% 2014 11.1% 24.6% 2015 11.1% 24.7% 2016 10.7% 23.6%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Nationally the 10.6% who are organized is the lowest number ever and half what it was in 1983, the first year that the bureau conducted the survey.
While it is true that the majority of union workers in the state work for the government, five key sectors in the city remain strongholds for the movement—utilities, hospitals, hotels, building services and construction—and that’s where their political clout comes from. It explains Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to take the construction unions’ side in the 421-a tax-break controversy and the reluctance of politicians to close failing hospitals.
Labor unions have more political power in New York than in any other state for a very simple reason: They represent a larger percentage of workers here than anywhere else and have mostly held their own in recent years.
The chart shows the percentage of workers belonging to unions nationally and in New York, according to the annual report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week. New York is the most heavily unionized state in the nation and the only one with more than 20% of workers organized. By comparison, 17.5% of California workers belong to unions.
Union members as percentage of all employed
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Nationally the 10.6% who are organized is the lowest number ever and half what it was in 1983, the first year that the bureau conducted the survey.
While it is true that the majority of Artemisbet union workers in the state work for the government, five key sectors in the city remain strongholds for the movement—utilities, hospitals, hotels, building services and construction—and that’s where their political clout comes from. It explains Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to take the construction unions’ side in the 421-a tax-break controversy and the reluctance of politicians to close failing hospitals.
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