Contributed by Olga Vanucci.
- Fifty years ago, nearly a third of U.S. workers belonged to a union. Today, it’s one in 10.
- On average, a worker covered by a union contract earns 13% more in wages.
- Unions have transformed once-low-wage jobs in hospitality, nursing, and janitorial services into positions with living wages.
- When the share of workers who are union members is relatively high, wages of nonunion workers are higher.
- Union members are 18% more likely to vote in presidential elections than non-members, 43% more likely to volunteer for an election campaign, and 73-93% more likely to participate in protests.