In any political debate, you’ll hear candidates express support for unions, labeling them as the cornerstone of American labor and manufacturing. But how important are unions nowadays and how many union members are left?
If fewer than 10% of Americans were members of a union in 2024, then why are unions still such a contentious point of discussion? Perhaps it’s the long history of organized labor in America.
In July 1936, just one year after the passage of the Wagner Act, which guaranteed workers the right to unionize, Gallup asked Americans if they supported labor unions. 76% said yes. Around this time, as a result of New Deal policies and Depression-era frustrations, membership surged. Union membership rose from about 13% of American workers in 1935 to 29% in 1939.
The passage of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947 sought to amend and limit union power. The prohibition of practices such as closed shops (businesses which required union membership for employment) were instituted. This did not hinder overall support for unions however. According to the Department of the Treasury, labor unions would reach their peak membership in the 1950s with one-third of American workers claiming membership.
Through the post-war decades, union support continued to hold strong. Gallup, in 1957, found that 75% of Americans approved of labor unions, an all-time high. Trouble was on the way however, as media reports of corruption within unions such as the Teamsters began to shift public opinion. According to Gallup, by 1979, approval had dropped to 55%. Ronald Reagan’s firing of striking air traffic controllers in the early 80s seemed to continue eroding support. That year, 1981, Gallup found only 14% of Americans thought labor leaders had high ethical standards, and, by 1983, just 20% of American workers belonged to a union.
In the latter decades of the 20th century, union membership declined rapidly. This can largely be attributed to the loss of U.S. manufacturing plants and factories. Industries which were traditionally union strongholds, such as the steel, auto, and manufacturing industries, saw factories close or move overseas. As blue-collar jobs disappeared, union membership dropped.
But what about the public perception of organized labor? According to Pew in 1999, 70% of Americans still said that labor unions were necessary to protect working people.
Coming out of the 2008 recession, the early 2010s saw a surge in union support from new demographics. As income inequality grew, professions such as teaching became hotbeds for activism, materializing in strikes and walkouts.
Nonetheless, membership continued to decline AND support continued to rebound. Then came the pandemic. Workers in essential roles, such as healthcare, food service, and delivery, began demanding more compensation for their efforts. Gallup, in 2022, found that 71% of Americans approved of unions, the highest percentage since 1965.
Post-pandemic, unions continued to hold strong public support, achieving high-profile victories such as the Union of Auto Workers (UAW) winning concessions from automakers. A 2023 CNN/SSRS poll showed 76% of voters supported striking auto workers.
Today, though union membership only hovers around 10% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their cultural presence as a tool for social equity has not faded. As income inequality continues to grow, these unions show big corporations that people — workers — still have at least some of the power.