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But future public sector growth in union membership is in doubt. States and municipalities laid off tens of thousands of workers to balance their budgets after tax revenues plummeted because of the recession. Public sector unions also have faced growing hostility from GOP legislatures in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states that have tried to curb collective bargaining rights. Florida saw the largest increase in union members last year, up 68,000, followed by Michigan, a 44,000 increase as auto industry employment surged. Union membership fell most sharply in New York, down 53,000. New York remains the most heavily unionized state at 24 percent, while North Carolina has the lowest union rate at 2.9 percent. Among full-time wage and salary workers, the median weekly earnings of union members was $938, compared to $729 for nonunion workers.
[Associated
Press;
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