Labor Union Support Continues to Rise
Standing at 65%, public support for American labor unions is the highest it’s been since 2003. According to the July 30-Aug. 12 Gallup poll, approval has been steadily climbing since reaching a historic low of 48% during the Great Recession in 2009.
Researchers think the coronavirus pandemic is responsible for the latest boost in union approval.
“Many people lost their jobs during the pandemic, so it’s no surprise they’re looking to the power and strength found through labor unions to help get back to something resembling normal and help boost the economy while they’re at it,” said Sean O’Donoghue, Bay Area SMACNA Executive Vice President. “Unions create a sense of belonging, mutual respect and give people a voice in what matters to them in their career and beyond.”
The benefits of labor unions in our communities extend beyond the workplace. Yes, the earning potential of union members outpaces their non-union counterparts, but so does their training and quality of work. Local labor unions also keep work local, meaning more dollars stay in the communities where we live and work.
Additionally, MIT researchers in 2018 found that approximately 48% of non-union workers (representing some 58 million workers) would join a union if they could. This increase in public support could see an upward trend in union membership in the years to come.