Democracy Forum

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine We talk about the historical and contemporary link between labor organizing and expanding political rights like voting. -Is union organizing an important, if not essential, tool in building a vibrant democracy? -Has the diminution of labor unions contributed to the politics of resentment? -Has it provided fertile ground for the current moment of populist anger and stridently divided politics? -What led to the demise of unions over the last half century? -How could they come back? Guests: David Madland, resident senior fellow and senior adviser to the American Worker Project at the Center for American Progress. Cynthia Phinney, President of the Maine AFL-CIO. She was the first woman elected to that position in 2015. To learn more about this topic: Re-Union: How Bold Labor Reforms Can Repair, Revitalize, and Reunite the United States, David Madland, May, 2021 In 2020, the number of unionized workers dropped, while the share of union members increased, USAFacts,