A bigger share of Lansing's workers belong to unions than in all of Michigan, but their ranks may be shrinking.

New estimates from two university economists show that metropolitan Lansing's work- force was more unionized in 2014 than the state workforce as a whole, 18.9 percent, versus the statewide 14.5 percent reported last month by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The region's union workforce has been shrinking steadily for years.  Membership in Lansing area unions was estimated at nearly 29 percent of the workforce in 2007, tied for fifth most unionized metro area in the country.

It tied for 33rd last year.  Union officials and others say the decline in membership can weaken collective bargaining and wage growth.

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