Most people don't realize that the number of people in worker-owned businesses has grown significantly over the course of the past few decades; looking at these figures in the context of declining union membership gives you a sense of how significant this shift is. Are we witnessing the emergence of a new potential base for progressive politics?

Worker ownership is wonderful but it relies on enlightened leadership/founders/owners. Union membership is a protection in places where the executives are less enlightened/more combative toward workers. Therefore, worker ownership can't replace the function played by unions.