UNION STRENGTH IN THE UNITED-STATES - LESSONS FROM THE UPS STRIKE

The August 1997 strike against United parcel Service ended in victory for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United States' lar gest trade union. Examining the economic circumstances of the strike a nd the issues at stake -including part-time work and pensions -Rothste in shows that this victory did not signal a reversal of the secular de cline in union influence in the United States, contrary to what was cl aimed at the time. He traces declining union membership to the ease wi th which employers can lawfully frustrate union organizing efforts, co ncluding that only new legislation could bring about a revival of unio n strength.