In a year marked by labor unrest and high-profile union drives, the American workforce is witnessing a resurgence in union activity, despite a slight decrease in union membership rates.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the union membership rate in 2022 was 10.1 percent, a slight dip from 10.3 percent in 2021. However, the number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions increased by 273,000, or 1.9 percent, from 2021, totaling 14.3 million in 2022. This increase was overshadowed by a larger surge in the total number of wage and salary workers, leading to a decrease in the union membership rate.
Public-sector workers continue to lead the charge with a union membership rate of 33.1 percent, more than five times higher than their private-sector counterparts. Furthermore, union workers continue to outearn their non-union counterparts, with union employees averaging $1,216 per week compared to $1,029 for non-union workers.
Despite the decrease in union membership rate, there are clear signs of a resurgence in union activities. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has seen a dramatic increase in the number of union election petitions filed in the last year. The nationwide Starbucks union drive accounted for a significant portion of this activity, with hundreds of cafés voting in unions throughout 2022.
In another significant development, UPS workers, represented by the Teamsters union, are pushing for higher pay. If no deal is reached by July 31, the union has vowed to walk off the job in what would be America’s biggest strike in 60 years. The major outstanding issue is pay, particularly for part-time UPS workers, who make up 60% of the company’s workforce. Part-time workers at UPS start at $16.20 an hour, but some workers are pushing for starting pay of $25 an hour.
Adding to the wave of labor unrest, Hollywood writers have also gone on strike, protesting against what they describe as ‘gig work’ conditions in the industry. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) called its first work stoppage in 15 years after failing to reach an agreement for higher pay from studios. This strike underscores the growing discontent among creative professionals in the gig economy and highlights the increasing role of unions in advocating for better pay and working conditions in the entertainment industry.
These developments underscore the growing unrest among workers and the increasing role of unions in advocating for better pay and working conditions. However, they also highlight the challenges unions face in increasing their membership and influence in the current economic climate.
As the American workforce continues to grapple with the economic impacts of the pandemic, the role of unions in advocating for workers’ rights and fair pay is more critical than ever. The coming months will be a crucial test for the labor movement as it seeks to navigate these challenges and build on its recent momentum.