Union Membership in Illinois Declining
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By: Alexandra Sutter WMBD/WYZZ
Updated: January 28, 2013
PEORIA - Union membership in Illinois is seeing a sharp decline.
According
to the Department of Labor, the state had a 10 percent drop in the union
workforce from 2011 to 2012.
Marty
Helfers, the Executive Director for the West Central Illinois Building and
Construction Trades Council said he attributes the loss to the economy and
changing technology. He said, "The Great Recession has been tough on the
trades, and throughout the economy."
He said
locally he's beginning to see some gains. He said throughout the recession the
council has stayed steady with about 17,000 members.
