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11 Law, Culture & Human. 5 (2015)

handle is hein.journals/lculh11 and id is 1 raw text is: Law, Culture and the Humanities 20 15, Vol. Il 1(1) 5 Editorial @ The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.ul/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1743872114531534 Ich.sagepub.com OSAGE I grew up, during the 1950s, in a family of union people. In those days more than 1/3 of all workers were labor union members. And, I was taught some simple rules and maxims. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was to be venerated. Collective bargaining was essential in a fair and decent society. Social progress depended on a strong labor movement. And, rule number 1, never cross a picket line. Today union membership in the United States is radically reduced and the role of unions in protecting and advancing the interests of workers is substantially diminished. In fact, as Ian Welch recently noted, union membership has declined to almost exactly the same percentage as it was in 1930 before FDR took power and encouraged the growth of unions. Moreover, labor unions have come under direct political attack as conserva- tive politicians have attempted to undermine public sector unions where membership has remained strong. In this issue's Commentary Section three distinguished scholars try to make sense of these developments and assess their meaning for social equality and human dignity both in the United States and abroad. In so doing, they remind us yet again of the power of humanistic insights in illuminating the most pressing issues of our times. Austin Sarat Amherst College