If you think the best days of the unions are behind them, think again. Organized labor is reinventing itself, beefing up organizing efforts and leveraging power in new ways.

According to Washington Employers Inc., a human resources trade association, whether or not your company is unionized or headed that direction, the resurgence of organized labor will affect your bottom line. Unions’ entry into new fields will up the costs of products and services. And increased political muscle increases the odds for federal and state laws and regulations on health care, equal pay, and wages for all workers, not just union members. The recent rule change by the Washington Dept. of Labor and Industries against employer associations retroactive rating programs is but one example of the union influence.

The growing influence of the unions goes beyond rising numbers Although 1999 showed the biggest membership gains in decades with 266,000 new union cards Issued, organizers are reaching out to non-traditional employee groups: blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, old and new economies, freelancers, temps, and high-tech consultants.

New organizing tools are being put to use as well:
• The Internet, which alleviates the need for workers to pound pavement and knock on doors
• “Neutrality” clauses in contracts, which mandate that employers refrain from fighting unionization efforts at their affiliate and subsidiary companies, making it much easier to organize. These were recently approved in health care, steel, communications, gaming and hotel industries contracts.
• Unions are also getting their members elected to public office. About 2,000 already hold seats on city councils, county boards or serve as mayors.
Over $60 million will be spent for upcoming House and Senate races as well as the White House. In addition, another $40 million will be spent mobilizing union members to get to the polls.