Following years of declining unionization rates, the United States is experiencing a significant resurgence of labor unions throughout the country. Between October 2021 and March 2022, union representation petitions filed at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) skyrocketed 57% compared to the same time last year. Approval of labor unions amongst the general public is also at the highest point in almost sixty years. A recent poll found that a whopping 68% of Americans support labor unions, the highest rate since 1965.
Even some of the country’s largest companies that have never been unionized before are now seeing employees trying to form labor unions in an effort to obtain better pay, benefits, and safety for employees. Notably, over the past year, 54 individual Starbucks locations voted in favor of unionizing after employee complaints of poor treatment, underpayment, and lack of proper training. Similarly, just last month, an Amazon warehouse in New York City voted to form the company’s first labor union. A vote is also slated in early June for Apple’s first labor union.
The question then becomes, why are companies like Starbucks, Amazon, and Apple all of a sudden facing union organization campaigns? The answer is fairly simple. The resurgence of labor unions across the country can be primarily attributed to the following three factors:
1.) THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely the biggest contributing factor to the recent wave of unionization. First, the pandemic completely altered how people think about a work-life balance. After watching family and friends suffer and die from COVID-19, people are beginning to question how companies can still expect them to dedicate their entire lives to working. Now, with a sense of their own mortality, people are much more willing to demand better working conditions. Second, prior to the pandemic, employees in the retail, food, and beverage industries never typically unionized. However, after employees in these industries worked through the entire pandemic and were widely recognized as essential workers, the mindset has completely changed. Employees in these industries have realized how important their jobs are, and, as a result, began to demand higher pay and better working conditions. In fact, data from the NLRB shows that nearly 28% of new union petitions this year are from food services and accommodation workers. Third and finally, the pandemic prompted a general wave of activism. People are more compelled to speak up than ever before, with many employees communicating their grievances through social media and other digital platforms. This enabled people to virtually connect with one another and demand meaningful change in the workplace.
2.) THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.
Employees are empowered to unionize by the current political climate. President Joe Biden is an outspoken supporter of labor unions, even promising to be the most pro-union president this country has ever seen. With a president in office who supports and encourages their efforts, employees are motivated and inspired to continue fighting for better working conditions.
3.) THE MEDIA.
In recent months, the media has taken a significant interest in the resurgence of labor unions. The media attention given to employees unionizing, whether they are successful or not, has inspired other employees across the country to follow suit. For example, employees at an Apple store in Georgia, who are currently pursuing unionization efforts, stated that they were inspired by Amazon employees who tried to unionize a warehouse in Alabama. This widespread media coverage allows retail and food service workers alike to connect with one another and inspire each other to unionize and ultimately seek better working conditions.
Unionizing appears to be the latest trend, and there is no sign that this will change any time soon.
