Union membership is at a 97-year low. In the past year, their ranks fell to just over 11 percent of the workforce nationally, with sharp drops in places like Wisconsin and Indiana. And, as you may remember, those states had some pretty dramatic political standoffs over unions.
But turn to California and you get a sunnier outlook. That's because, unlike the most of the nation, union membership grew last year in California by more than 100,000 people.
One reason for the increase is California's high population of Latinos. Harley Shaiken, professor at UC Berkeley specializing in labor history, joins the show to explain why California's unions are still going strong.
Why labor unions are still going strong in California
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Take Two for January 25, 2013
- China's role in California's economy
- Stop The Presses: LA Youth newspaper ends publication after 25 years
- Antioxidants may not keep you young and healthy
- Why labor unions are still going strong in California
- Friday Flashback: Gun control, John Kerry, and more
- Could the X-Games be selling out?
- Trader Joe's raises price of Two-Buck Chuck wine (Poll)
- E-Verify lessons from Arizona
- Price of first-class postal stamp rises to 46 cents
- Photographer Stefan Falke captures artists living and working in Mexico border towns
- Former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton tapped to help Oakland reduce crime rate
- The Dinner Party: Haunted house, lack of sleep and more
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