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What I've Been Reading This Week: Labor Law Edition


Every so often, I come across a few good articles on a particular topic during the week that warrant a "What I've Been Reading This Week" post dedicated solely to that topic.  This week was no exception as there were several good labor law articles I came across that caught my attention.  As always, below are a few articles that caught my eye this week.


Southwest is on the Rise, But Will Labor Issues Ground Them?

Bloomberg Businessweek has a good article on the potential labor union issues that Southwest is facing.  A few weeks ago, Southwest rebranded itself by way of a new logo, designs on planes, etc. to much fanfare.  What has not been talked about as much, as of yet, is the growing rumbling among its employees over negotiations over their contracts.  This is one to keep an eye on.


A Look at How Unions Are Shrinking & the Subsequent Impact

What better way to start a Labor Law Edition blog than to start with the basics.  This article takes an in depth look at how labor unions have shrunk over the years in the U.S. and the effect that has had.  The article uses 7 different charts to walk the reader through the decreasing presence of unions in the workplace.  One of the things I found most surprising was that while union membership has decreased significantly over the past few decades, public support has remained relatively consistent, around the 50% mark.  Interesting...and somewhat surprising. 


What Unions No Longer Do

Justin Fox has a somewhat unique look at what labor unions no longer do in today's work environment.  As the above article showed, unions have been around for decades, and with declining membership especially in the private sector, the roles of unions have changed.  Justin has a few interesting points to read through on areas in which unions no longer play a role.

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