Why Unions Matter

Yates, who is Associate Editor of Monthly Review and Director of Monthly Review Press, has taught labor studies at a number of US universities and colleges. His 1998 book argued that labor unions mattered because they were the one institution that had dramatically improved the lives of the majority of people, and had the potential to transform both the economic and political landscape radically into a more democratic contour. Here he strengthens the argument with recent figures and with discussions of immigrant labor and the Employee Free Choice Act. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)