Is There a Crisis in the Labor Movement? No

Abstract

Although a number of writers have claimed that organized labor faces a crisis, there is agreement neither on its symptoms nor on remedies among those who have noted its existence. This is not the first time that organized labor was supposed to be facing a crisis; in a number of other situations, observers believed that organized labor faced serious and insol uble difficulties. The belief in a crisis in organized labor today is based upon evidence which is inadequate. Changes in oc cupational composition and the increased importance of profes sional and clerical employment are not serious obstacles to the future prosperity of organized labor. Examination and evalua tion of the available evidence supports a conclusion that the American labor movement fights harder, better, and more suc cessfully for its members than any in the world.