Unions in a Struggling Economy

The economy is in the doldrums, and labor unions and their members are feeling the pinch. Major unions across the nation are threatening to strike; machinists at United Airlines, longshoremen on the West Coast, hotel and restaurant workers in Chicago. Any of these strikes could have a significant impact on the economy, but unionized workers feel they have little choice. This hour, unions and a sputtering economy. What's the role of organized labor in America today?

Guests:

Harley Shaiken - Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of California at Berkeley and expert on labor, trade, and the global economy

Richard Trumka - Secretary-Treasurer for the AFL-CIO