In recent years attacks on labor unions have become increasingly common, with so called Right to Work laws popping up across the former industrial Midwest. In response union membership has plummeted, from 20.1% in 1983 to 10.7% in 2016. Despite their recent decline, unions still provide immense benefits to many Americans in both their past and present activities. So this Labor Day, cut through contemporary rhetoric surrounding unions and recognize their contributions to modern society.
Labor Unions were critical in the creation of the modern weekend and workday. Today many take in for granted that they will work about 40 hours a week and have two days off, generally Saturday and Sunday. In 1870, when unions were almost non-existent, the average American worked 61 hours a week, more than 20 hours more than today’s average of 34.4 hours per week. Much of this reduction comes from the introduction of the weekend, which was formalized by the Fair Labor Standards Act past in 1937. Unions strongly campaigned for this law, which placed caps on hours worked per week. Unions also campaigned for an 8 hour workday. While it’s popular folk lore to claim that Henry Ford created to 8 hour shift, unions campaigned for this more than half a century earlier. Additionally, the systemic dismantling of unions by far right Republicans has led to a reduction in these gains. For instance, in Wisconsin it is no longer mandatory to allow workers one day off a week.
Unions were also instrumental in the creation of family leave and other benefits. The AFL-CIO, the largest union federation in the United States, pushed heavily for the Family and Medical Leave Act, which guaranteed workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for a newborn or sick family member or attend to the worker’s own illness. While not perfect, the law at least gave people a guaranteed job when they returned to work. Unions also raise benefits for all workers, unionized and not, by making companies compete on the benefits they offer. Unions were also instrumental in the creation of employer provided health insurance (which has dubious benefits compared to other systems, but it’s better than nothing). Unions also brought us pensions, paid vacation, health and safety protections, and overtime pay. However, as with the weekend, in recent years these advances have come under threat. The United States has not only not advanced on issues like sick leave (which is almost always unpaid), but has regressed in some places; pensions are under threat, health and safety protections have weakened, and overtime coverage is patchy.
Unions also benefit society at large via increased wages and economic equality. Union members’ wages earn about 13% more than nonunion workers in the same field. But when union density is high, nonunion workers tend to share in the benefits. This creates higher wages for all. Unions also tend to decrease income inequality. In the 1940s and 50s, when union membership was high, the United States experienced widely shared economic growth and income inequality was at one of its lowest points in the country’s history. In contrast, today, as union membership falls, income inequality is rising and fewer and fewer are benefiting from the country’s economic growth.
Unions have provided countless benefits to modern society, and their decreasing membership should scare anyone who cares about the plight of the American working and middle classes. So this Labor Day, thank unions, because they’re probably the reason you aren’t laboring in an unsafe coal mine 10 hours a day 7 days a week with no health insurance or vacation.
Liberal Talking Head 