Birmingham, AL – Authorities say Alabama's rate of union membership remains far above that of other states in the Southeast, despite a slight decline last year.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show that 10 percent of Alabama workers belonged to unions in 2011, down from 10.1 percent in the previous year.
Union membership in Alabama has remained fairly consistent over the past decade and has long been the highest in the region.
Alabama's rate is lower than the U.S. average of 11.8 percent in 2011.
The federal data shows that among neighboring states, Florida had the second-highest union membership rate at 6.3 percent in 2011. Georgia's was lowest, at 3.9 percent.
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