I‑
Unionization Rates
•
No accurate data
–
Perhaps 9% overall
–
Perhaps under 6% in private sector
•
Disproportionately public sector
•
Union support much greater than
membership
–
Influence much greater than membership would
indicate
Perhaps 9% overall
Down by half 1975
Seems to have stopped downward trend and stabilized since late 1990s
Disproportionately public sector
Teachers only group in country well over 50% organized
FEN, teachers union was largest in the country (and independent of all federations)
Split in 1992 with more moderate leaders of FEN remaining dominant among primary teachers
More radical group calling itself FSU became dominant among secondary teachers
Influence much greater than membership would indicate
Because unions play formal role in administration of unemployment system, retirement system, vocational training, etc.
Also because they negotiate many of these issues with employers and then see the results enacted into law