The fall (and rise?) of unions in the US

We answered a viewer’s question about the decline of unionization.

“How come we’ve seen such a decline in unionization in the US?” That’s the question we received from one of our viewers, Cameron when we put out a call for topics to explain. It comes at an interesting time.

Earlier this year, the Amazon Labor Union won its first election at a large warehouse in New York, and more than 200 Starbucks locations have voted to unionize since baristas in Buffalo broke the seal in December 2021. The National Labor Relations Board reports that petitions for union elections are up 56 percent this year compared to 2021.

This level of energy and momentum in the labor movement is remarkable in light of the long, steep decline in union membership rates since the 1950s. Social science has limited tools for establishing what caused that decline, and different experts tend to emphasize different factors. But in the video above, we dig into a few key drivers of low union density in the US relative to other wealthy countries.

Sources:

[Vox]

Please note that for this format, we're only accepting video questions via the form above. Thanks for watching!

[tinhov]

As a european, it is always curious to see, that in (nearly) every social issue the US faces today, Reagan is involved in some form or another.

[VNExperience]

In Finland, on my first day working in construction my boss recommended that I join the union. He even helped me fill in the paperwork after explaining all the benefits in detail.
Everyone I knew was in the union, and for a good reason. If you lost your job or were treated unfairly, the union provided legal assistance and took care of you financially until you got a new job.
It really pays to unionize.
Our unions were born out of the early 20th century American movement and they're still going strong. Sadly, it seems that's not the case in the country that inspired them.

[jbant]

Without watching I’m going to blindly assume Reagan is behind this and see if I’m wrong

[jfridy]

At my wife's job, Half Price Books, they are holding seminars about the dangers of unions. They tell them that unions will lead to lower wages, less job security, less benefits. This all started when the company fired half of its employees 2 years ago and replaced them with part timers with no benefits. Then the Wisconsin Half Price Book stores unionized. They company considered shutting down all of them and abandoning the state, and now is trying to contain what they see is a contagion.

Did I mention that Half Price Books is based out of Texas? Unions are seen as dangerous COMMUNISM, and a threat to the companies massive profits in the last 2 years.

Don't shop at Half Price Books.

[cameronf]

I like how there were maybe 3 decades or so that it was financially prosperous for the middle class - could have a husband, wife, and 2+ kids on one income and still be financially sustainable - and it was when union memberships were highest.

[felixlpilon]

It must be noted that Québec drives the 'Canadian' average way up by being included in the statistics despite having a very different economy. The Québec economy has a much larger public sector (including gigantic State-owned companies such as Hydro-Québec) and very union-friendly legislation. The unionization rate in Québec is nearly 40%, while Ontario's is barely above 25%.

[lylaburmeister]

So strange seeing the percentages for union members on that chart as someone currently living in Sweden. I mean, here roughly 3/4 of the work force is in a union. I mean, at my current workplace, there are even posters up with information about the union as well as the phone numbers and email to our local representative so that everyone is aware of their existence and feels like they can join them and contact them for anything.

[nicoles]

I’m a unionized Canadian worker, and I make $4-5/hour more than others doing the exact same job as me in the same city (6 workplaces in the same industry here). The benefits that being a union member confers are real and measurable, and when more workplaces are union the standard of living will go up for all workers, because companies feel the pressure to compete.

[dama]

The irony that Reagan was the only president in history who was a union leader! (Actros Union) He conveniently hid that fact.

[sadjesse]

In Belgium, every company with 50 or more employees is mandatory to have a union.
So most companies exist of a lot of separate small companies of max 49 employees within one building for example.

[c-]

It's really weird that the Taft-Hartley Act wasn't even mentioned. Taft-Hartley basically neutered unions and corresponds exactly with the decline of union membership.

[AussieTVMusic]

It's amazing more Americans aren't in Unions considering the country was formed by a Union and they have a Union of states. Yet they let themselves be oppressed by business.

[piekay]

Germany has something called the „Betriebsrat“, every company with more than 10 employees is legally required to create one. You can imagine it like a Union inside of the company, but it isn‘t included in these statistics, because it doesn’t count as a Union…

[leemoore]

As a union member is am just so happy that I work in a union job. And yes I pay $60 a month in union dues but that translates to me getting 3 weeks paid vacation plus 13 sick days per year and only having to spend $500 a year on medical expenses before insurance covers everything else. Also a great retirement package

[nickzardiashvili]

Let's not ignore that excellent Squidward art behind Cameron.

[InevitableTruth]

A video on how to unionize step by step would be amazing, especially for younger folks like myself who are interested in the prospect and can have the confidence to make the move with their co workers

[Julio]

Interesting to see all the hurdles to workers’ rights in the US, especially from France where we have a constitutional right to unionize

[MrMtanz]

For the history of unions segment, you should have mentioned the Hormel strike during the 1980s

[KaritKtana]

Americans, using Whatsapp?!?
Vox floors me yet again!