[lbo-talk] CNA responds to Mark Rickling

[Doug Henwood]

On Apr 17, 2008, at 10:33 PM, Mark Rickling wrote:


> In areas with density, one can drive standards. This is basic unionism
> 101. CA has a bunch of density, so does NY.

This effect is not visible in average wage levels. To pick two lines  
of work where SEIU is active in the New York metro area:

median hourly wage
(BLS, 2006)

                  level        ratio to all

              -------------   ---------------

                US      NY      US       NY
nurses      $27.54  $34.75   188.5%   185.1%
janitors      9.58   11.89    65.6     63.3
all          14.61   18.77   100.0    100.0

Note that the ratio to the average wage in the NY metro area is  
*lower* than the national average. Though of course all the absolute  
wage levels are higher.

Doug