1.   Hale said growth is strong in the American south and west, but membership is declining in northern areas of the United States.

2.   The main problem for the exchanges is that membership is declining as large investment banks and banks buy individual futures and options trading companies.

3.   The report comes at a time when overall union membership has declined.

4.   Union membership has declined even more.

5.   Unions have passionate supporters, too, but most of them are already union members, and membership has been declining for decades.

6.   Union membership has been declining the past half-century.

7.   While union membership has been declining, it is still important politically.

8.   Tapping into that work force is very desirable for unions, which have seen their memberships steadily decline.