Unions represent workers of all levels of education, and union workers are diverse, just like America. As of 2016, roughly 10.6 million of the 16.3 million workers covered by a union contract are women and/or people of color, and more than half (54.5 percent) of workers age 18 to 64 and covered by a union contract have an associate degree or more education.
The erosion of collective bargaining has undercut wages and benefits not only for union members, but for nonunion workers as well. This has been a major cause of middle-class income stagnation and rising inequality. Yet, millions of workers desire union representation but are not able to obtain it. Restoring workers’ ability to organize and bargain collectively for improved compensation and a voice on the job is a major public policy priority.
Care Economy
Ensuring access to high quality early childhood care and education would have enormous benefits for children, families, society, and the economy. Read More.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector is of vital importance in maintaining states’ innovative capacities. Read More.
So-Called “Right-to-Work”
So-called right-to-work (RTW) laws seek to hamstring unions’ ability to help employees bargain with their employers for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Read More.
Collective bargaining through a union is how working people gain a voice at work and the power to shape their work lives.