1. Set Focus
Pose this essential question: What sparks movements for social change?
2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions.
- The first paragraph states the central idea of the article as a question. Paraphrase it as a statement. What aspect of the central idea does the author emphasize by stating it as a question? (The central idea is that labor unions used to play a powerful role in the workplace and may now be on the rise again. By stating the central idea as a question, the author emphasizes that a union revival isn’t a sure thing—it may or may not happen.)
- What led to the decline of unions after membership peaked in 1954? (Union membership began to decline as manufacturing jobs were lost to automation as well as workers overseas, where labor is cheaper. In addition, the U.S. shifted from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based one. As unions lost members, they also lost political clout. And as corporations got wealthier, they gained more power in stopping unionizing efforts.)