Photo: #Nurses picket near Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Children's Hospital in Minneapolis Thursday, June 10, 2010. More than 12,000 nurses at 14 metro hospitals are conducting a 24-hour strike after contract negotiations reached a stalemate.
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Nurses picket near Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Children's Hospital in Minneapolis Thursday, June 10, 2010. More than 12,000 nurses at 14 metro hospitals are conducting a 24-hour strike after contract negotiations reached a stalemate. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson)

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The state of the labor union


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The nurses' one-day strike made history for its size. Professionals like nurses are why unions have seen some growth, while the membership in traditional trade unions has declined. And budget deficits at the state and federal levels may create even less bargaining room for public employee union members like teachers.

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  • Richard Hurd: Labor historian at Cornell University.
  • Barry Bluestone: Professor of political economy at Northeastern University.

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