TY - JOUR
T1 - The economic status of union workers in the United States
AU - Vedder, Richard
AU - Kalenkoski, Charlene
PY - 2006/9
Y1 - 2006/9
N2 - Although American labor unions evolved out of poverty, today's typical union worker is relatively affluent. Current Population Survey data show that average annual household earnings in 2002 for full-time union workers were nearly $79,000, nearly double the median of all households (including ones with non-workers), and more than for nonunion worker households. While relatively few union workers are truly "poor," a larger proportion (over one-third for members of teachers' unions) comes from households with over $100,000 in annual income. A puzzle: why do union members tend to support liberal policies and politicians far more than their relative affluence would predict? Perhaps it partly reflects rent-seeking behavior.
AB - Although American labor unions evolved out of poverty, today's typical union worker is relatively affluent. Current Population Survey data show that average annual household earnings in 2002 for full-time union workers were nearly $79,000, nearly double the median of all households (including ones with non-workers), and more than for nonunion worker households. While relatively few union workers are truly "poor," a larger proportion (over one-third for members of teachers' unions) comes from households with over $100,000 in annual income. A puzzle: why do union members tend to support liberal policies and politicians far more than their relative affluence would predict? Perhaps it partly reflects rent-seeking behavior.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33751537735&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12122-006-1022-z
DO - 10.1007/s12122-006-1022-z
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:33751537735
SN - 0195-3613
VL - 27
SP - 593
EP - 603
JO - Journal of Labor Research
JF - Journal of Labor Research
IS - 4
ER -