A Hoosier economist says labor unions are in a big state of decline in America.

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Ball State Economist Mike Hicks says he has studied labor unions for more than twenty years. Hicks says the past 30 years have seen unions collapse faster than any other mainstream organization in American history. Hicks breaks unions into two basic categories: trade unions which organize and set trade rules and industrial unions which engage in salary negotiations with employers. Hicks says 40 years ago, one of every three private sector workers were in unions. Today, Hicks says that figure is one of every 18.

He says the whole labor union movement is tied up in tension between private sector unions which focus on commerce and businesses success and public sector unions which fight for higher taxes and worker protection above all costs. Hicks says the focus and goals of unions have become unclear to many people. He says their time has come and gone unless they're successful at modernizing and reinventing themselves.