In the early 1980's, President Ronald Reagan famously fired thousands of striking air traffic controllers. To this day, many observers of the labor movement point to that as the beginning of a long decline in union power.
Today, those with union membership make up a much smaller fraction of the US labor force than in the 1950s 60s and 70s.
However, fairly recently labor unions and their chief bargaining tactic – strikes, are making a big comeback. And that increased activity could have profound impact on our state and nation.
On this edition of Oregon On The Record, you’ll hear a conversation with University of Oregon professor Bob Bussel and Oregon State University professor Alison Johnston, who study labor unions and hear how yes, the labor movement is making a bit of a comeback in this country, and also how the much greater strength of unions oversees might be influencing labor right here at home.
