DETROIT, April 5 (UPI) -- The United Auto Workers membership rose 4.8 percent last year, ending 2004 with 54,657 members, according to a report filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
The union's nationwide membership has declined from a peak of 1.5 million in the late 1970s as Detroit automakers lost market share to foreign rivals. But last year the UAW boosted membership by 30,000 by organizing members in government, health care, services, education and auto parts makers, the Detroit News reported Tuesday.
"Any labor organizer would tell you it's a tough climate," said UAW spokesman Paul Krell. "Any worker -- more importantly -- would tell you it's a tough climate. The fact that a union could basically stabilize its membership means there are a lot of workers out there who want a union and who see the need for it."
Although the union's active membership has appeared to rise -- the union says the Labor Department formula artificially inflates or deflates membership numbers -- the UAW collected $206.5 million in dues last year, down from the $214.3 million it collected during 2003.
