[lbo-talk] [LBO] Surowecki on unions

Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Fri Jan 14 08:17:32 PST 2011


On Jan 14, 2011, at 11:11 AM, Marv Gandall wrote:


> Schickler and Caughey also observe correctly that the closed shop was (and remains) "a major concern for unions since the open shop would undermine their ability to gain and maintain a substantial membership base across industries. But here too poll results indicated that even during the New Deal "a healthy majority of the public opposed both the closed and union shop and instead favored the open shop".

Bob Fitch (cue the haters!) says that the closed shop is part of the reason for U.S. unions' weak state. By being granted a monopoly, they don't have to do a damn thing for the members. In countries like France, where several unions compete, often on political grounds, the unions are livelier and more popular.

Doug



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