Union representation rose significantly in Massachusetts last year and bucked an ongoing national decline, thanks in part to aggressive organizing in the health care and hospitality sectors.

The percentage of the state’s workforce represented by a union rose to 16.2 percent in 2012 from 15.4 percent in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, total union representation nationwide dropped to 12.5 percent in 2012, down from 13 percent in the previous year. The figures include union members as well as other people whose jobs are covered by unions.

By Marc Levy
October 24, 2012

Le Méridien Hotel management said it’s feeling no impact from a boycott called by workers and city officials a little over a week ago, but a union official warns that it’s early yet.

Workers called Oct. 11 for a boycott of their own employer and appeared the next Monday before the City Council, where a ban on holding city events was affirmed unanimously by councillors. In addition to demanding such events as a biennial post-election celebration be moved from the 20 Sidney St. hotel, some also testified to putting a more personal stamp on their opposition to management’s practices, with vice mayor Denise Simmons saying she had stopped having tea at the hotel and councillor Tim Toomey saying he was telling people to take their business elsewhere.