With less than 17 percent of workers now represented, unions are becoming an endangered species.

Barbara Hauptman, the union's executive director, says the union is becoming more aggressive.

But since the 1960's, he said, such unions have become more common as the numbers of staff members and lobbyists have exploded.

Rugby union is becoming a more popular sport in China, than it previously has been.

A Gallup poll in this newspaper showed that 84 per cent of the population felt the unions had become too powerful.

The union has become known in recent years for its involvement in political campaigns.

Already, with the scheduled addition of 10 countries next year, the union has become more diverse than ever.

The exemption for the teachers shows how powerful the teachers' union has become in Pennsylvania.

Moreover, he said, unions are becoming less supportive of workers who flout safety rules.

I agree that sometimes unions have become too powerful, but they have been necessary in improving working conditions.