Unions suffer steep decline in membership Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 7:17 am, Wednesday, January 23, 2013 WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's labor unions suffered sharp declines in membership last year, led by losses among public sector workers in cash-strapped states, cities, counties and towns. Teachers unions were among the hardest hit, with the ranks of public school teachers and educators falling sharply.