Why Unions Matter, 2nd ed

By Michael Yates

Ten years ago Why Unions Matter gave us a solid overview of the history, structure, functioning, and problems of U.S. unions. Now Yates has updated the book to look at why labor’s numbers have continued to decline, to evaluate the New Voices Slate in the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win split, and to take account of the rise of immigrant workers and worker centers. He concludes that unions matter more than ever.

From the publisher:

In this new edition of Why Unions Matter, Michael D. Yates shows why unions still matter. Unions mean better pay, benefits, and working conditions for their members; they force employers to treat employees with dignity and respect; and at their best, they provide a way for workers to make society both more democratic and egalitarian. Yates uses simple language, clear data, and engaging examples to show why workers need unions, how unions are formed, how they operate, how collective bargaining works, the role of unions in politics, and what unions have done to bring workers together across the divides of race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation.

“A comprehensive, readable introduction to the history, structure, functioning, and yes, the problems of U.S. unions. For labor and political activists just coming on the scene or veterans looking for that missing overview, this is the best place to start.”

—Kim Moody, founder of Labor Notes, author of Workers in a Lean World and U.S. Labor in Trouble and Transition