The completed form would then be processed and sent automatically to an organizer at a union chosen by the interested individual. This particular website has made it as simple as possible for individuals and entities interested in joining a union. The sponsor of the website most likely figures that the easier it is to join, the more people will be enticed in to doing so. This is especially important since union memberships, as a percentage of the overall working force, has been dropping steadily since the early 1990's. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, since 1995 the percentage of union employees compared to overall payroll employees has dropped from 14.9% to 12%.

A drop of almost three percentages points over one decade is a huge decline, and most likely has the unions scrambling to figure out what to do in order to entice a reversal of this trend.

Accordingly, the unions are looking more and more to organizing additional employees in additional industries in order to regain the prominence they once enjoyed. The four types of jobs most likely to face recruitment by the unions for membership could include such industries as; farmers, government employees, individuals in the service industries, and the old standby; factory workers. The reasoning behind such a statement is as follows; there are very few family farmers left with most farms having been sold or incorporated into huge conglomerations. The individuals running these farms and ranches could join together and force the entire economy down to its knees. A union could help them capitalize on that potential power. Many governmental employees have very little say in their work environment. Forming a union (or several unions) could help them in achieving more parity with their private company counterparts. The service industry...

Of course, there are always factory workers, and while they may not be prevalent in America as much as in the past, they are definitely still in existence throughout the world. Unions can and will continue to expand to other countries, which could determine their long-term success or failure.
On the other side of the coin, companies who do not wish to allow unions a say in what happens within the organization can take specific steps to halt any organizing efforts by the unions.

First of all, and probably most importantly, the companies must treat their employees fairly. Secondly, the companies could give the employees a voice in the methods used to manage the workforce. Third, the companies can offer equal pay for equal work. And fourth, the company can be proactive in communicating any and all changes to the employees. Most employees can understand any circumstances, if trusted enough to be informed about said circumstances. This may be key in regards to a company's success in averting unionization.

Some of the potential issues to be encountered in the future regarding union activity may be concerning how companies and unions decide on which employees can unionize and which cannot. A happy medium can probably be reached if all interested parties are able to communicate. Again, communication may be a key in not only company survival, but in union survival as well.

Works Cited

How to Join a Union (2007) AFL-CIO, http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/how/, Accessed April 12, 2007

New Internationalist (2001) What did the Unions Ever do for Us?, http://www.newint.org/issue341/unions.htm, Accessed April 12, 2007