Since the membership highs of the 1950s, labor unions in the United States have struggled to find a footing in the workplace as the manufacturing sector of the economy, a traditional bastion of union support, has declined significantly. The high-tech global economy of the early twentyfirst century—commonly referred to as the "new economy"— has made it increasingly difficult for labor unions to organize new members and influence the working and living standards of U.S. workers.

Labor leaders contend that unions are reasserting their relevancy to new economy workers by spending more time and money on community recruitment and education programs. These programs are intended to organize and create support networks for full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract workers facing an unstable job market. Explains Julie Kosterlitz, a writer for the National Journal, "[Workers] can still use help...