Labor unions are organizations that represent the collective interests of workers in various industries and sectors. They negotiate with employers on issues such as wages, benefits, working conditions, and labor rights. Labor unions have played a significant role in shaping the American economy and society, especially during the 20th century, when they fought for social reforms such as the minimum wage, the eight-hour workday, and the end of child labor.
However, in recent decades, labor unions have faced many challenges, such as the decline of manufacturing jobs, the rise of globalization and outsourcing, the weakening of labor laws, and the emergence of new forms of work that are less regulated and more precarious. These factors have contributed to the decline of union membership, power, and influence in the US.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the union membership rate in the US was 10.8% in 2020, down from 20.1% in 1983, the first year for which comparable data are available. The number of union members in the US was 14.3 million in 2020, down from 17.7 million in 1983. The union membership rate in the private sector was 6.3% in 2020, while the public sector had a much higher rate of 34.8%.
However, despite these trends, labor unions are not giving up. They are adapting to the changing economic and social landscape, and finding new ways to organize and mobilize workers, especially in the face of the rapid development and adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology, and digital platforms. These technologies have the potential to create new opportunities and challenges for workers, employers, and society at large, as they transform the nature, quality, and quantity of work.
Labor Unions and the Future of Work
One of the main questions that labor unions and workers face in the era of technological innovation is how to ensure that the benefits and risks of these technologies are shared fairly and equitably among all stakeholders. Some of the benefits of technology include increased productivity, efficiency, quality, innovation, and competitiveness. Some of the risks include job displacement, skill obsolescence, income inequality, ethical dilemmas, and social disruption.
Labor unions have a vital role to play in shaping the future of work, as they can advocate for the rights and interests of workers in the design, development, deployment, and governance of these technologies. They can also help workers adapt to the changing demands and requirements of work, by providing them with education, training, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities. Moreover, they can foster social dialogue and collaboration among workers, employers, policymakers, educators, researchers, and civil society, to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered future of work.
Some of the examples of how labor unions are engaging with technology and the future of work are:
- The AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US, has launched a Future of Work Commission to study the impact of technology on work and workers, and to develop a policy agenda and a strategic plan to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.
- The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the largest and fastest-growing labor unions in the US, has organized workers in the gig economy, such as Uber and Lyft drivers, to demand better pay, benefits, and working conditions, and to challenge the classification of these workers as independent contractors rather than employees.
- The United Auto Workers (UAW), one of the most influential labor unions in the US, has negotiated with automakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler, to ensure that the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles does not result in job losses, wage cuts, or benefit reductions for union members, and to secure investments in retraining and redeployment programs for affected workers.
- The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), one of the largest and most diverse labor unions in the US, has partnered with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), to create the Electrical Training Alliance, a joint apprenticeship and training program that prepares workers for the installation, maintenance, and operation of electrical systems and technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines, smart grids, and battery storage.
Labor Unions and the Biden Administration
Another factor that is boosting the role and relevance of labor unions in the US is the support and endorsement of the Biden administration, which has declared itself to be the most pro-union administration in American history. President Biden has expressed his commitment to strengthening and expanding the rights and protections of workers and unions, and to promoting a fair and inclusive economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the actions and initiatives that the Biden administration has taken or proposed to support labor unions and workers are:
- The appointment of Marty Walsh, a former union leader and mayor of Boston, as the Secretary of Labor, and the nomination of [Julie Su], a labor rights advocate and the current secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, as the Deputy Secretary of Labor.
- The creation of the [White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment], chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris and co-chaired by Secretary Walsh, to mobilize the federal government’s policies, programs, and practices to empower workers to organize and bargain collectively.
- The endorsement of the [Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act], a comprehensive labor reform bill that would strengthen the National Labor Relations Act, and make it easier for workers to form unions and bargain collectively, and harder for employers to interfere with or retaliate against union activities.
- The inclusion of $400 billion in the [American Jobs Plan], a massive infrastructure and investment proposal, to expand home and community-based care services for the elderly and disabled, and to raise the wages and benefits of the caregivers, who are mostly women and people of color, and to give them the opportunity to join a union or bargain collectively.
- The announcement of the [Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program], a $7 billion initiative to boost the emerging hydrogen industry and support America’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions, which includes a strong emphasis on labor engagement and union representation in the design and implementation of the program.
Labor Unions and the Public Opinion
A final factor that is enhancing the influence and impact of labor unions in the US is the growing public support and approval of unions and their role in society. According to a [Gallup poll] conducted in August 2023, two out of three Americans (67%) approve of labor unions, down slightly from 71% a year ago, but still marking the fifth straight year that this reading has exceeded its long-term average of 62%. The poll also found that 48% of Americans would like to see unions have more influence, while 26% would like to see them have less influence, and 24% would like to see them have the same influence as today.
The public opinion on unions varies by demographic and political factors, such as age, education, income, race, gender, and party affiliation. For instance, the poll showed that younger adults (aged 18 to 34), college graduates, lower-income households, non-white Americans, women, and Democrats are more likely to approve of unions and to favor more union influence than older adults, non-college graduates, higher-income households, white Americans, men, and Republicans.
The reasons for the public support of unions may include the recognition of the positive effects of unions on workers’ wages, benefits, and working conditions, the appreciation of the role of unions in advancing social justice and democracy, and the perception of unions as a counterbalance to the power and influence of corporations and the wealthy.
