Labor fairing well in recession?

Reuters has an interesting article about how unions are weathering the economic slump. It says unions "represent" 17.8 million workers, 13.7% of the nation's workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the latest figures on union "membership" at 12.4% and 16.1 Million. The quoted numbers include the estimated 1.7 million employees who do not belong to a union even though it is their representative. The Reuters piece also quotes the BLS as its source for its claim that so far in 2009, there have been only 3 strikes involving over 1000 workers as compared to 15 in 2008 and 29 in 2001. First year wage increases were at 2.5%, down from last year's 3.7% increase.