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Older photo of men holding signs on strike.
Labor Unions
  1. U.S. Labor Unions in the 1940s
  2. U.S. Unions in the Cold War
  3. Public worker unions in the United States
  4. Decline in Strike Activity in the US
  5. Union Membership Across the United States
  6. Right-to-Work Laws
  7. Types of Unions in the United States
  8. The AFL-CIO
  9. Labor Contracts in the United States
  10. Strikes in the United States
  11. What Happens During a Strike
  12. Long Strikes and Violence
  13. The 1964 Civil Rights Act
  14. Union Campaign Contributions and Political Influence
  15. Unions and Politics
  16. U.S. Unions in the 90s and Today
  17. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: George Meany
  18. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: John L. Lewis
  19. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: Walter Reuther
  20. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: A. Philip Randolph
  21. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: Jimmy Hoffa
  22. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: Caesar Chavez
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Union memebrs in matching shirts hold signs
Members of the AFSCME join the AFL-CIO's "Solidarity Day" march on Washington in 1991.
Photo from Jim West.
Types of Unions in the United States
Private Unions: In craft unions, also called horizontal unions, members share the same skill or occupation, such as the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Industrial unions, also called vertical unions, represent workers in the same industry, regardless of their particular skill, such as the United Auto Workers. However, within the UAW workers with different skill classifications may have quite different pay levels. Public Unions: Public worker unions represent government employees and health care workers. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the largest public union. In the United States today, government workers have the highest union membership rate. As a group, wholesale and retail trade workers have the lowest rate of union membership.
Special Terms: rate of union membership  |  craft union  |  industrial unions

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