Unions are dying, right?

Chatting with a mid 20's lawyer on Friday evening, he made the observation; 'unions are dying, right?'

In June of this year Statistics New Zealand reported that around 1 in 5 employees belonged to a union. In a 2012 survey union membership was at 27.6%, a drop to 20% in just over four years. 

So, yes the facts are union membership levels are in decline. From the view of having held both elected and paid roles in a union, and working with unions in many organisations I see this as a problem for our workplaces.

I think of the many times a manager has been thankful to have an employee represented by  a union delegate who is well informed about the organisation and what to look for in a good process. The times when the union organiser has raised an alternative view that makes you sit and think - "hadn't looked at it in that way" and this has helped craft a better proposal. 

For my money there are significant benefits in having effective worker representation, so survive on and thrive unions - needed now as much as ever.