What Happened to Labor Unions?

The period from 2023 to 2026 has been a dynamic era for labor unions in the United States, characterized by a significant upsurge in worker activism and public support, alongside persistent challenges. A key driver of this resurgence has been the rising cost of living and growing job insecurity, pushing workers to seek stronger protections and better compensation through collective bargaining. Public approval for labor unions reached 71% in 2026, a near 60-year high, indicating a broad societal shift in perception.

Major strikes in 2023, such as those by the United Auto Workers (UAW) against the Big Three automakers and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA in Hollywood, served as critical turning points. The UAW's 'stand-up strike' strategy secured substantial wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments, and commitments regarding union representation at new electric vehicle battery plants. Similarly, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which concluded in late 2023, achieved significant gains in residuals and, notably, established protections against the unregulated use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in creative work, setting a precedent for other industries.

Despite these high-profile victories, the path to unionization and securing first contracts remains arduous. Companies like Starbucks and Amazon have continued to employ sophisticated anti-union strategies, leading to numerous unfair labor practice charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). As of early 2026, many unionized Starbucks and Amazon locations still struggled to finalize their first collective bargaining agreements, highlighting the legal and practical hurdles unions face even after successful organizing drives.

Legislatively, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, reintroduced in March 2025, remains a central focus for labor advocates. If passed, the PRO Act would significantly strengthen workers' rights to organize, weaken state 'right-to-work' laws, and impose stricter penalties on employers for labor law violations. However, it continues to face strong opposition from business groups and a challenging legislative pathway in the Senate. In June 2026, the House passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act, aiming to expedite initial bargaining processes and introduce third-party arbitration if agreements are not reached promptly, further signaling legislative efforts to empower unions.

The advent of Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a critical new frontier for labor unions. By 2026, unions are actively engaging with the implications of AI on job displacement, wage compression, surveillance, and the need for new worker protections. A May 2026 AFL-CIO poll indicated overwhelming worker support for union-backed policies on AI, with 95% supporting human oversight in AI-driven employment decisions. Some unions, like National Nurses United, have even supported moratoriums on AI data centers due to concerns about their impact on communities and jobs, while others, like the AFL-CIO, advocate for stricter regulations rather than outright bans. As of September 2026, California passed a bill banning AI workplace surveillance of workers' emotional states, reflecting a growing legislative response to these concerns.

Overall, while union membership rates saw a slight increase to 10% in 2025 (up from 9.9% in 2024), the labor movement is characterized by heightened activity, public favorability, and a strategic focus on adapting to a changing economy, particularly concerning technology and new employment models. The demographic of union members is also evolving, with significant representation among people of color and women, and younger workers increasingly viewing unions as a practical tool for securing better working conditions.