Under 10% of private employees in California belong to unions. Thanks to the Amazon strike, that company will accelerate their move to technology and AI, so fewer employees are needed. Eventually they will move to autonomous trucks and drones to deliver packages. The strikers are just the company reason to lay them off in favor of tech.
“The number of rank-and-file employees increased by 4,538 between October 2023 and 2024, according to payroll data. The number of dues-paying members, meanwhile, increased by 367 state workers. The percentage of dues-paying members — which stood at 65% last year — decreased by one percentage point this year. In 2021, 66% of rank-and-file employees paid dues. The overall decline in dues-paying membership was unevenly felt. Some of the state’s 21 bargaining units increased membership, while others lost dues-paying workers.
At SEIU Local 1000, 456 fewer members paid dues in October 2024, compared to the previous year’s payroll period. Meanwhile, the state hired nearly 3,000 more employees among the nine units represented by SEIU Local 1000, which resulted in a two point decrease in the union’s due-paying membership.”
Little by little workers are standing up to union bosses. They have already done that in the private sector.
Union membership continues slow decline as California hires more rank-and-file employees
By William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 12/18/24 https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article297205319.html#storylink=cpy
In the six years since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public employees are not required to pay monthly dues, unions representing state workers have been tasked with convincing members that representation is worth the monthly deduction. Labor leaders regularly cite the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME decision as one reason for declining rates of dues-paying members. Though for some unions, like those that represent peace officers, the landmark court decision has made little impact on membership. But across labor groups representing state employees, the rate of dues-paying members continues trending down, according to the latest numbers from the State Controller’s Office, which is responsible for deducting union dues for most eligible state employees.
The number of rank-and-file employees increased by 4,538 between October 2023 and 2024, according to payroll data. The number of dues-paying members, meanwhile, increased by 367 state workers. The percentage of dues-paying members — which stood at 65% last year — decreased by one percentage point this year. In 2021, 66% of rank-and-file employees paid dues. The overall decline in dues-paying membership was unevenly felt. Some of the state’s 21 bargaining units increased membership, while others lost dues-paying workers.
At SEIU Local 1000, 456 fewer members paid dues in October 2024, compared to the previous year’s payroll period. Meanwhile, the state hired nearly 3,000 more employees among the nine units represented by SEIU Local 1000, which resulted in a two point decrease in the union’s due-paying membership. The union noted the SCO data did not include State Bar employees from the membership numbers. Anica Walls, the president of the union representing nearly 100,000 state employees, said growing membership remains a priority for the labor group. Despite the dip in dues-paying membership, she argued support for the union has remained consistent given that thousands of employees have left the union due to retirement or promotions.
“In a challenging environment for unions, SEIU Local 1000 has maintained steady membership levels over the past two years,” Walls said in a statement. The California Association of Professional Scientists, which ratified a new contract earlier this year following a historic strike, was one of the unions that saw support grow in recent years. Dues-paying membership increased by three points between October 2023 and 2024, according to payroll data. Mia Roberts, the director at large of the scientists’ union, said affiliating with the United Automobile Workers earlier this year helped contribute to membership growth.
Regardless of the Janus decision, CAPS-UAW followed the same basic approach to organizing in recent years, Roberts said. “It takes both one-on-one conversations and talking about the union in the workplace, just making it a part of our culture,” Roberts said. Far ahead of the pack, peace officer and emergency services unions have tremendous support from the employees they represent. The unions representing state firefighters, correctional officers and highway patrol officers collected dues from all but a fraction of their members.
Jake Johnson, the president of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the union has maintained a high level of support — over 99% of officers pay dues — because workers recognize the benefits of membership. Those include a legal defense fund, a members-only insurance plan and a disability supplement if someone is injured off the job. “I think we have a good reputation that we built over 100 years,” Johnson said.
“I don’t think you last that long unless you operate very well.” Daniel Mitchell, a professor emeritus at the University of California Los Angeles Anderson School of Management, said the California Correctional Peace Officers Association has used its significant influence to deliver for its membership. CCPOA members also have access to some of the same benefits available to CHP officers. Those benefits tend to produce member loyalty, Mitchell said. “As in other law enforcement situations, there is likely to be more peer pressure and peer enforcement of norms,” Mitchell said.
