Why Support For Labor Unions Is At Its Highest Level Since 1965

The White House has released a 43-page report from its labor task force, which offers recommendations into how the government can better support workers who want to join labor unions. 

The task force was created last April in order to help boost union membership, which has been steadily declining for decades. From there, the administration suggested how the government can encourage workers to join labor unions, as well as protect those who want to engage in organizing labor unions. 

In 2021, just 10.3% of the U.S. workforce was represented by a union, which is down more than 30% since the 1950s. 

However, as issues of work conditions have become increasingly prevalent in today’s culture, demand for unionizing has grown. 

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, chair of the task force, said they are now seeking a system that helps report unionization progress. This will see a new report being submitted in six months which will track how these recommendations are contributing to progress. 

“I think this could be a game changer, to have the power of the federal government examining itself and how its practices can be utilized to advance worker organizing,” said Liz Shuler, president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). 

While the report does not specify how union membership has improved since Biden took office, it finds that 68% of Americans approve of labor unions, which is the highest level seen since 1965. 

Growing endorsements for labor unions seems to coincide with the pandemic’s impact on employee rights, with the experience of workers increasingly becoming a priority for companies facing labor shortages and high turnover rates.