In a recent Gallup push poll, a staggering 70% of Americans expressed their approval of labor unions. The media is quick to hail this as a revival of Big Labor’s glory days from the 1960s. However, the reality tells a different story – the number of workers joining unions is plummeting despite the Biden administration’s efforts to boost union participation. Far from a resurgence, the stats indicate a decline in union membership.
Here are some key points that shed light on the current state of labor unions in the US:
- A mere 10% of the American workforce was unionized in 2023, a record low compared to 20.1% in 1983, revealing a significant drop in union membership over the years.
- The private sector shows an even bleaker picture, with only 6% of private sector workers being unionized in 2023.
In the political arena, Democrats have a vested interest in promoting union membership, as a large portion of Big Labor’s political spending goes towards supporting Democratic candidates. In 2020 alone, Big Labor spent over $1.8 billion to elect the Biden-Harris ticket and other Democrats. President Biden, dubbed as the “most pro-union president in American history,” has leveraged federal agencies to benefit Big Labor’s interests.
Despite the administration’s efforts, Big Labor has faced setbacks after few victories. Instances like the controversial Amazon Labor Union election at JFK8, Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant organization, and Mercedes’ Alabama plant defeat highlight the challenges unions are facing in current times.
To counter the declining membership, Big Labor has resorted to aggressive tactics like striking “no-raid” agreements and launching new initiatives like the Pharmacy Guild. However, these efforts have not yielded significant results, with only a handful of pharmacists joining the Guild despite media hype.
The reality is that traditional unions are struggling to resonate with the modern workforce, which is already benefiting from competitive compensation and benefits packages offered by employers like CVS and Walgreens. Unions like the Pharmacy Guild aim to duplicate benefits that pharmacists already enjoy, further alienating potential members.
Ultimately, the declining trend in union membership indicates that workers are increasingly turning away from traditional unions. Big Labor’s struggles reflect a disconnect with the evolving needs and desires of the workforce, emphasizing the need for a more modern approach to organized labor.
In conclusion, the illusion of Big Labor’s power belies a fundamental decline in relevance and membership. As long as unions focus on political spending rather than providing tangible benefits to workers, their decline is inevitable. Workers continue to vote with their feet, rejecting unions in favor of more relevant and beneficial employment opportunities.
