Department of Professional Employees (DPE), AFL-CIO, Communications Director Katie Barrows joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how professional employees are a growing segment of the union workforce, and how to best serve their needs.
Created in 1977 to meet the needs of professionals, the DPE is a coalition of 24 national unions representing over 4 million professionals. Its purpose is to help non-union professionals understand the benefits of belonging to a union and to help grow and strengthen existing professional unions, Barrows explained.
According to 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professional employees represent 45 percent of the labor movement, roughly 6.24 million union professionals, which is a substantial increase from 5 million union professionals in 2000. Barrows attributed this growth to journalists, non-profit workers and tech workers who are organizing large numbers.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.