Union membership in Washington State increased by 30,000 in 2007 to an estimated 579,000 and the state's union membership jumped to 20.2% from 19.8% in 2006, according to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. That increase brings Washington State from 5th to 4th highest in terms of the unionization rates. Only,
New York , Alaska and
Hawaii , in that order, have higher rates.

"Washington State is proving once again that it is good for families and good for business." said Rick Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council. "Recently Forbes Magazine named Washington's business climate 5th in the nation and that, coupled with the protection that unions bring to Washington families, it is a win, win for everyone."

Nationally union density increased by 311,000 to 15.7 million in 2007 which is the largest single-year increase in union membership since 1979.

Bender said that the increase in national union membership is a sign that American workers are recognizing the importance of representation and job protection despite the fact that current labor law is tilted in favor of business.

According to the Department of Labor's survey full-time wage and salary workers who were union members earned a median salary of $863 while those who were not represented by unions had median weekly earning of $663. Union members also traditionally receive superior benefits as compared to their non-union counterparts including better healthcare and pensions.