The long decline of the trade union movement continued over the past year, with new figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that just 28% of employees are now union members.
Although this figure is down only 0.3 percentage points on the previous year, the fall continues a trend which has been unabated by more than a decade of Labour government and some of the most union-friendly legislation enacted in generations.
Although this figure is down only 0.3 percentage points on the previous year, the fall continues a trend which has been unabated by more than a decade of Labour government and some of the most union-friendly legislation enacted in generations.
The annual report on trade union membership (PDF format, 948KB)continues a statistical series which began way back in the 1890s and, as ever, contains a wealth of information on the shape and size of the trade union movement.
For me, though, some of the most striking findings illustrate the extent to which trade union membership has become a largely middle-class preserve.
The chart below shows how union density is highest among profession and associate professional staff. Nearly three out of five professional women are members compared with around a quarter of skilled male workers.
This is partly about the sectors in which people work. Nearly three out of five public sector employees are union members compared with around one in six in the private sector. But it is more than that.
Most starkly, just 17.5% of employees earning less than £250 a week are union members compared with 41.9% of those earning between £250 and £999.
Even those earning £1,000 or more a week (that is, at least £52,000 a year), are more likely to be union members (23.2%) than are those at the bottom of the pay scales.
For me, though, some of the most striking findings illustrate the extent to which trade union membership has become a largely middle-class preserve.
The chart below shows how union density is highest among profession and associate professional staff. Nearly three out of five professional women are members compared with around a quarter of skilled male workers.
This is partly about the sectors in which people work. Nearly three out of five public sector employees are union members compared with around one in six in the private sector. But it is more than that.
Most starkly, just 17.5% of employees earning less than £250 a week are union members compared with 41.9% of those earning between £250 and £999.
Even those earning £1,000 or more a week (that is, at least £52,000 a year), are more likely to be union members (23.2%) than are those at the bottom of the pay scales.
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