In general, union membership numbers have been dropping steadily and the UAW is no exception.
As reported in an Associated Press article, the UAW once had 1.5 million members in 1979, but in the union's latest filing with Department of Labor, the number of members has dropped to less than 500,000. In fact, the UAW has lost over 50,000 members in the last two years.
Source: Bureau of National Affairs (BNA PLUS)
The UAW is trying everything they can to boost membership numbers. Figures compiled by the Bureau of National Affairs show the union filed over 700 petitions for election with the National Labor Relations Board between 2001 and the end of 2010. However, the union wound up winning about 35% of the time. That's a lot of work for not much in return.
| Year |
# Petitions |
Union Wins |
% Union Wins |
| 2001 |
95 |
33 |
34.7% |
| 2002 |
130 |
41 |
31.5% |
| 2003 |
98 |
43 |
43.9% |
| 2004 |
102 |
31 |
30.4% |
| 2005 |
80 |
31 |
38.8% |
| 2006 |
74 |
19 |
25.7% |
| 2007 |
56 |
21 |
37.5% |
| 2008 |
43 |
15 |
34.9% |
| 2009 |
25 |
8 |
32.0% |
| 2010 |
32 |
13 |
40.6% |
| Totals |
735 |
255 |
34.7% |
Source: Bureau of National Affairs (BNA PLUS)
In 2010 alone, the union filed 32 petitions but only managed to win 13 elections - just 40%. It's hard to grow a union, much less stay even, when the overwhelming majority of employees turn down union representation time after time.
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