‘Blunting’ the decline of unions
Some say the organized-labor movement is going to pot — but at least one union is looking to pot for its salvation.
US labor unions continue to shrink. Last year, just 11.3 percent of American workers belonged to a union, the lowest share in a century and nearly half what it was just 30 years ago.
Anyone sinking so far would grab any line to keep from drowning, even if that line is made of hemp. And some labor leaders are eyeing legal marijuana as a source for new members.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union represents employees at three medical-marijuana facilities in Los Angeles, and plans to organize in another 49 over the coming year.